David Kills Goliath

Artwork by Sister Marie Claire , SMMI (1937–2018) from Bengaluru, India.

For more information about images by Sister Marie Claire and ways to purchase them as lithographs, see here .

For other images of Sister Marie Claire paintings in TIPs, see here.

complete verse (1 Samuel 17:42)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:42:

  • Kupsabiny: “That Philistine looked at David and despised him because he was of tender age and he was handsome.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He looked at David closely [and] carefully, and seeing that David’s cheeks were red, and that he was a very handsome boy, he despised him intensely.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Goliat recognized/noticed that David (was) only a handsome young-man and his face (was) ruddy/reddish, he mocked him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “he looked at David closely. He saw that David had a handsome face and healthy body, but that he was only a young man. So he sneered at David.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


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

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

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

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 17:42

The verbs looked and saw, like the two verbs in the previous verse, may at first sound redundant. But they also heighten the dramatic effect of the story. Goliath could hardly believe what he saw at first glance. When he had a chance to see clearly who was coming toward him, he reacted with contempt.

The verb here translated disdained is elsewhere rendered by the English verb “despise” (2.30 and 10.27). The idea is that of considering worthless or regarding with contempt. It is possible to translate “made fun of” (Contemporary English Version) or “despised” (Moffatt).

The conjunction for introduces the reason for Goliath’s contempt for David. He did not consider the attractive young boy a worthy opponent.

Ruddy and comely in appearance: see the comments on 16.12.

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 .