complete verse (1 Samuel 20:36)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 20:36:

  • Kupsabiny: “Jonathan told that servant that, ‘Hurry and pick some arrows which I want to shoot.’ When that servant took off, Jonathan shot an arrow and hit in front of that servant/slave.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He told that young man, "I will shoot an arrow, you go running, look for the arrow and bring it. Then he went, and before he went past, Jonathan shot an arrow.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He said to the child/(boy), ‘[You (sing.)] run and look-for/search-for the arrows I shoot.’ So as the boy was-running Jonatan shot-an-arrow beyond/ahead of him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jonathan said to the boy, ‘Run and find the arrows that I shoot.’ The boy started running, and Jonathan shot an arrow ahead of the boy.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

come (Japanese honorifics)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

In these verses, the Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “come” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-ide (おいで), combining “come” (ide) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 20:36

Find: in place of this verb, a manuscript from Qumran has a technical term that means “to gather [an arrow].” The translation “fetch the arrow” (New American Bible) is based on this Qumran manuscript. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} evaluation to the Masoretic Text and recommends that it be followed. The Hebrew has the particle of entreaty with the verb find. Fox says “Run, pray find the arrows.” Most translations, however, do not attempt to translate this particle here.

In cases where indirect discourse is preferred, the first part of this verse may be translated “He told the boy to go and find the arrows he was about to shoot.”

Beyond him: that is, “over his head” (Revised English Bible). This would permit Jonathan to give the proper signal to David to allow him to get away from Saul.

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 .