complete verse (1 Samuel 19:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 19:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Michal helped him secretly through the window and he fled.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Michal sent David down from a window and he escaped without anyone seeing him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Mical helped David to-go-down through a window, and David fled.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So she enabled David to climb out through a window, and he ran away and escaped.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

survive / escape / save

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “survive,” “escape,” “save,” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) in these verses with pulumuka, describing someone whose life was in danger but who has freed himself or herself. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

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 19:12

Perhaps the house wall was built into the wall of the city, so that by escaping from the house, David also escaped from the city (see Josh 2.15). A similar escape takes place in the New Testament in Acts 9.25, where Paul was helped to escape by his disciples. This incident is also referred to in 2 Cor 11.33.

Both verses 12 and 13 repeat the name Michal. Following acceptable English style, Good News Translation substitutes pronouns in both verses.

Fled away and escaped: literally “he walked, and he fled, and he escaped.” Regarding the second Hebrew verb, “he fled,” see the comments on verse 18.

Escaped: see the comments on verse 10.

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 .