Saul

The name that is transliterated as “Saul” in English means “asked for,” “demanded,” “required.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign that depicts “sword in chest” (referring to 1 Samuel 31:4 and 1 Chronicles 10:4) and also “self-centered.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

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

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Saul .

David eluded him twice

The Hebrew in 1 Samuel 18:11 that is translated in English as “David eluded him twice” had to be translated more explicitly in San Blas Kuna. That translation first says that Saul threw the spear at him twice: “They couldn’t skip that step.”

complete verse (1 Samuel 18:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 18:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “then he thought in his stomach (head) that, ‘I need/want to spear David against the wall.’ Saul threw (his spear) at David two times, but David dodged both those spears.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Thinking, "I will pin David to the wall," he threw his spear, but David turned away twice and was and was spared.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The next day, Saul was- again -empowered by a wicked/evil spirit that was sent by God, and he talked-a-lot/chattered like a fool inside his house. David played a harp for Saul as he often did. Saul said to himself while he was-holding a spear, ‘I will-throw-a-spear at David so-that he will-be-pinned to the wall.’ And he threw-the-spear at David twice, but David was-able-to-elude/keep-away-from (it).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “and he hurled it at David, saying to himself, ‘I will fasten David to the wall with the spear!’ He did that two times, but David jumped aside both times.” (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 18:11

For this entire verse, see the parallel verse in 19.10.

Cast the spear: the Hebrew leaves implicit that Saul cast the spear “at David.”

He thought: literally “he said.” Traditional versions say that “he said” (King James Version and Reina-Valera revisada), without indicating to whom he spoke. In certain contexts this verb should be translated as “thought” or “said to himself.” The direct quotation will be more naturally translated as indirect discourse in some languages, since it represents the thoughts of Saul. A possible model is “Saul thought he would be able to pin David to the wall.”

The beginning of this verse in Hebrew is literally “and Saul threw the spear and he said I will strike in David and in the wall.” In an attempt to keep the form of the Hebrew, Fox says “I will strike David and the wall (together)!” But such a translation, unlike Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, is not idiomatic English. The expression pin David to the wall may have to be made more explicit. To pin someone to the wall means to throw a spear so hard that it goes through the person’s body or clothing and sticks into the wall behind him. The person is then unable to move. One African language has to say “I will hit him with my spear against the wall.”

Good News Translation makes explicit what is implied in the statement that David evaded him twice, namely that Saul threw a spear at David two times.

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 .