12Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.
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)
The town name that is transliterated as “Bethlehem” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the signs signifying “manger + town” (referring to Luke 2:7). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
In American Sign Language it is translated with the signs for “bread” and “house,” referring to the original meaning of “Bethlehem” as “house of bread.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Bethlehem” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:12:
Kupsabiny: “Jesse had at that time advanced in age. David was the youngest among the eight sons of Jesse.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Now David was a son of [a man of] Ephrath called Jesse. He lived in Bethlehem of Judah. Jesse had eight sons. By Saul’s time he had already become a weak old man.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Now, Jesse had a child/(son) David. Jesse (was) an Efratite who lived in Betlehem which was-part of Juda. He (was) old already at that time when Saul (was) king of Israel. He had eight male children/(sons).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was from the clan of Ephrath. He lived in Bethlehem, in the area where the descendants of Judah lived. Jesse had eight sons. When Saul was king, Jesse had already become a very old man.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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