Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English 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)

complete verse (1 Samuel 17:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “The Philistines stood on top of a hill where they could see the hill which the Israelites were standing on and a valley was in between them.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Philistines stood lined up on one hill and the Israelites stood lined up on the other hill. Between them was the valley.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The Filistinhon gathered on-one-side of the hill/mountain and the Israelinhon on-the-other-side of the hill/mountain, and a valley (was) between them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So the Philistine and Israeli armies faced each other. They were on two hills, with a valley between them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 17:3

On the one side … on the other side: that is, on the two sides of the Valley of Elah mentioned in the previous verse.

A valley: the Hebrew word is not the same as that translated “valley” in verse 2. The Hebrew word here refers to a gorge or “ravine” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Klein) cut out by a stream of water running down the valley of Elah. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation use the indefinite article, “a [valley],” though Hebrew says “the valley [or, ravine].” Use of the indefinite article “a [valley]” in English gives the wrong impression that the valley separating the two armies is different from the valley mentioned in verse 2. New Jerusalem Bible and La Bible du Semeur more clearly say “the valley.”

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 .