The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Saul” in English 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)
The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the HausaCommon Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 18:29:
Kupsabiny: “he proceeded to become very much afraid and David became an enemy to him throughout his life.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “So he became even more afraid of David and remained his enemy for the rest of his life.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “he (was) now even more afraid of David. And David continued (to be) his enemy as-long-as he (was) still alive.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “he became more afraid of David. So, as long as Saul lived, he was David’s enemy.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Was still more afraid: literally “increased [or, added to] fear.” Saul was already afraid of David (see verse 12) but, after having seen his success against the Philistines, his fear increased. La Bible du Semeur restructures the first sentence of this verse, translating “His [Saul’s] fear with regard to David redoubled.”
So: Good News Translation shifts this element to the beginning of the verse, but the common Hebrew conjunction seems to express result here, that is, Saul was more afraid of David, with the result that he remained David’s enemy.
Continually: literally “all the days,” meaning “all the days of his [Saul’s] life,” or “for the rest of his life” (Contemporary English Version).
The second half of this verse and all of verse 30 are missing in one important manuscript of the Septuagint. Some interpreters think that the Masoretic Text contains a later addition that was intended to intensify the conflict between Saul and David. New American Bible places verses 29b-30 in brackets, indicating that the translators consider these words to be a later scribal addition to the original text. See the comments under the heading to this section.
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 .
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