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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 19:1:
Kupsabiny: “Saul told his son Jonathan and all his people who were helping him/servants that they should kill David. But because Jonathan and David love one another much,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials to kill David. But Jonathan loved David very much.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Now, Saul told Jonatan and all his servants/attendant to-kill David. But Jonatan (was) really fond/really loved David,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then Saul urged all his servants and his son Jonathan to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The Hebrew text identifies Jonathan as Saul’s son twice in this verse. In English style it is unnatural to repeat such information, so the second time this has been omitted by Good News Translation.
Servants: in this context the reference is almost certainly to members of Saul’s court and not to domestic servants. On the meanings and translation of this word, see the comments on 8.14.
That they should kill David: literally “to kill David.” That is, the verb form in Hebrew is an infinitive with no explicit agent. The agent may be Jonathan and Saul’s officials (so Revised English Bible “Saul incited Jonathan his son and all his household to kill David,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “Saul urged his son Jonathan and all his courtiers to kill David”). This seems the most natural reading of the Hebrew.
Two other interpretations are also possible: (1) the king himself planned to kill David (so Good News Translation), or (2) the king planned to have David killed by some unnamed person or persons (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible “Saul spoke to his son Jonathan and to all his servants about his plan to have David killed,” and apparently New Revised Standard Version “Saul spoke with his son Jonathan and with all his servants about killing David”). The second of these two interpretations finds support in 18.17 and 21.
But: the transition word is important here, since it sets the stage for Jonathan’s future actions, which are contrary to the will of his father.
For some unknown reason Revised English Bible begins verse 2 at this point. But translators are advised not to follow Revised English Bible in this matter.
Delighted much in David: compare the similar thought of 18.1 and 20.17, where it is said that Jonathan “loved” David. The same verb appears in 18.22, where Revised Standard Version says that Saul “has delight” in David. This verb expresses the idea of deep affection. In texts such as Est 2.14, which treat the relationship between a man and a woman, this verb has sexual connotations. In these passages that speak of the “delight” that Saul and Jonathan have for David, translators should avoid terms with strong sexual or erotic overtones.
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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