Philistines

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)

complete verse (1 Samuel 17:53)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:53:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the Israelites men came back, they entered into the place where the Philistines had gathered themselves (their camp) and took the things which were there.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When the Israelites returned from pursuing the Philistines they plundered their camp.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After they pursued the Filistinhon, they returned and they took what was-left/remaining at the camp of the Filistinhon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When the Israelis returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered/took everything from the Philistine camp.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 17:53

The Hebrew infinitive translated chasing comes from a root meaning “to burn” or “to set on fire.” In a few verses in the Old Testament it means “hotly to pursue,” suggesting an intense chase. Fox attempts to keep something of the Hebrew image by saying “returned from dashing-hotly after the Philistines.”

Plundered their camp: that is, the camp of the Philistines, who had run away. On the meaning of the verb plundered, see 14.48, although the Hebrew verb is slightly different at that point.

While the two clauses in this verse are joined by the conjunction and in Revised Standard Version, the plundering of the Philistine camp came after the return of the Israelites. Good News Translation therefore structures the verse differently, making the first part of the verse into a temporal relative clause. This may be a helpful model for certain other languages.

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 .