complete verse (1 Samuel 20:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 20:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Jonathan told David that, ‘Tomorrow, we shall celebrate the feast of the new moon, and it will be seen that you will be absent, because there is no one who will sit on your seat.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he said to David, "Tomorrow is the new moon festival. If you do not come your place will be empty, and all will know that you are not here.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Jonatan said to David, ‘Tomorrow (is) the Beginning of the Moon festival, and surely (it) will-be-known that you (sing.) are-not there for your (sing.) place-for-sitting/seat (will-be) vacant.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Jonathan said, ‘Tomorrow we will celebrate the Festival of the New Moon. When you are not sitting at your place when we eat, my father will miss you/see that you are not there.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 20:18

The new moon: see the comment on verse 5.

You will be missed: it will be necessary in some languages to use an active verb and say “they will miss you” (Bible en français courant uses the indefinite pronoun on as the subject, “one will miss you”) or “my father will notice you’re gone” (New Century Version; see verse 6).

Because your seat will be empty: in some cases this clause may be translated as a separate sentence: “Your empty seat will remind people that you are not there.”

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 .