complete verse (1 Samuel 2:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 2:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “My sons, desist from such because the message I am receiving from God’s people is not good.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It is not good to do like this, my sons! The report which the LORD’s people give concerning you is very bad.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (plur.)] stop that now, children/[sons], for this-(which) I have-heard from the people of the LORD (is) not good.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “My sons, stop it! The reports about you that the people who belong to Yahweh tell others are terrible !” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 2:24

No, my sons is a literal translation of the Hebrew. The sense may be more clearly expressed by substituting a command for the “No,” as in “Do stop it now, my sons” (Revised English Bible).

The second half of this verse repeats the same idea as contained in the last part of verse 23. For this reason Contemporary English Version translates the idea only once and combines verses 23 and 24 as follows:
“Why are you doing these awful things?” he asked them. “I’ve been hearing nothing but complaints about you from all of the LORD’s people.”

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 .