complete verse (1 Samuel 17:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “Goliath used to incite the Israelites right from morning to evening. He continued like that again and again for forty days.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Morning and evening for 40 days Goliath came to stand before the Israelites, threatening them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “For 40 days Goliat would-defy/provoke/challenge the Israelinhon day-(and)-night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “For 40 days Goliath came out from the Philistine camp and stood there taunting the Israeli army/telling the Israelis to choose one man to fight with him. He did it twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 17:16

While David was going back and forth between Saul’s camp and taking care of his father’s sheep, Goliath was issuing his daily challenges. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente connects verse 16 to the preceding verse by saying “In the meantime, the Philistine warrior….”

Forty days is often a round number in the Old Testament (see the comments on 4.18). Readers in many cultures today will understand the number forty to indicate a precise number of days, that is, no more and no less than forty. All translations consulted, however, translate this number literally rather than saying something like, “for many days” or “for about forty days.”

Goliath is not mentioned by name but is referred to here as the Philistine. By stating his name Good News Translation assures that the reader will understand that the reference is to Goliath. But at the same time, perhaps some slight loss of meaning occurs when the enemy is identified by name instead of by nationality, since the Philistines were bitter enemies of the Israelites. However, in languages that do not have definite or indefinite articles, the use of the name may be justified. A good solution may be to use both the name and the nationality: “Goliath, [the] Philistine.”

The assertion that Goliath took his stand means that he came out of the Philistine camp every morning and evening and stood alone while issuing his challenge to the Israelites troops. See also Bible en français courant, “presented himself over against the Israelite army.”

Morning and evening: in Hebrew these are verb forms, that is, “to rise early” and “to do something late.” These verbal forms function as adverbs, indicating when Goliath took his stand.

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 .