23As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
The term that is transliterated as “Goliath” in English means “exile,” “soothsayer,” “taken captive.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in American Sign Language with a finger pointing to the forehead (a reference to where the stone hit him) followed by the sign for “tall” referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 1 Samuel 17:4. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Goliath” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English means “(from) the land of wanderers,” “(from the) land of strangers” (same as “Palestinian”). (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:23:
Kupsabiny: “As David was still talking with his brothers, that Philistine called Goliath moved forward and bragged as usual. David heard what that man was saying.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “While he was talking with his brothers, Goliath, coming before [them], issued threats to the Israelites as always, and David heard it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “While he was-talking-together with them, Goliat, the one (who) fights well from-Gat came-forward, and he challenged again the Israelinhon. And David heard this.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “While he was talking with them, he saw Goliath coming out from among the Philistine soldiers, shouting to the Israelis, challenging them to send a man to fight him. David heard what Goliath was saying.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Behold: on the function and translation of the Hebrew term, see page 18 and following. Here it focuses attention on the menacing enemy warrior. Some may translate it in this context as “suddenly.”
Goliath is again introduced as the champion and as the Philistine of Gath, as in verse 4 above. As in verse 4, Good News Translation does not translate the Hebrew term rendered champion here. Also as in verse 4, this term is more accurately rendered as “the infantryman.”
Spoke the same words as before: see his challenge in verses 8-10 above. New Jerusalem Bible translates “made his usual speech,” while Bible en français courant says “repeated his habitual challenge.”
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 .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.