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 19:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 19:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that/Later, the Philistines again came back to fight the Israelites. David killed many of those Philistines and others fled.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Battle started again, David defeated the Philistines badly, and they went running away before him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Sometime later, the Filistinhon and the Israelinhon again fought, and David led his men to-fight. David fought vigorously/[double emphasis marker], so the Filistinhon fled.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One day a war started again, and David led his soldiers to fight against the Philistia army. David’s army attacked them very furiously, with the result that the Philistia army ran away.” (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 19:8

The Hebrew text begins by stating that there was war again and identifies the enemy nation only when telling whom David fought. Good News Translation restructures to tell at the beginning that the war was against the Philistines.

The Hebrew does not mention any troops, stating only that David fought the Philistines and defeated them. Elsewhere the writer of 1 Samuel refers to Saul (13.4; 14.47-48; 15.20), Jonathan (13.3) or David (23.5b; 30.17) alone when the reference is certainly to the entire army that they command. It is therefore reasonable to say “David and his army” in this context.

Made a great slaughter: see the comments at 4.10, and compare also 6.19.

So that they fled before him: the defeat of the Philistines was so disastrous that it caused them to run away in complete disorder.

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 .