Saul

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Saul” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign that depicts “sword in chest” (referring to 1 Samuel 31:4 and 1 Chronicles 10:4) and also “self-centered.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Saul” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about King Saul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Saul .

complete verse (1 Samuel 14:43)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 14:43:

  • Kupsabiny: “Saul told Jonathan that, ‘Say what you did!’ Jonathan said, ‘I have tasted a little honey using the tip of my stick. So, should I die just because of that?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Saul asked Jonathan, "What sin have you committed? Tell me."
    Jonathan said, "I only ate a little honey from the tip of my stick. So should I die?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Saul said to Jonatan, ‘What have- you (sing.) -done?’ Jonatan said, ‘I dipped the tip of my staff/walking-stick into honey and I ate just a little. So, (is it) really necessary that I die?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done that was wrong.’
    Jonathan replied, ‘I ate a little bit of honey. It was only a little bit that was on the end of my stick. Do I deserve to be executed because of doing that?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 14:43

If indirect discourse is preferred over the first direct quotation of this verse, the model is relatively simple: “Then Saul asked Jonathan to tell him what he had done.”

Jonathan’s explanation follows very closely the wording of the actual event recorded in verse 27, although it is briefer. The Hebrew construction expresses a slight note of emphasis that is missing in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh attempts to capture this by inserting “only,” that is, “I only tasted a bit of honey.” Fox says “I tasted, yes, tasted … a little honey.”

Here I am: as in 3.4-16 and 12.3, this indicates the speaker’s availability. But in this context he is accepting a very negative fate.

I will die: that is, “I am prepared to accept the consequences of my actions.” Nearly all versions render the last words of this verse in the form of a statement: I will die. New International Version, however, says “And now must I die?” (so also New Century Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .