angry

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “(was or became) angry” in English is translated in Kwere as “saw anger.” In Kwere, emotions are always paired with sensory verbs (seeing or smelling or hearing). (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Bariai it is “to have grumbling interiors” (source: Bariai Back Translation).

See also anger and feel (terror, pain, suffering, anxiety).

complete verse (1 Samuel 20:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 20:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “If he accepts what you say, then I will know that nothing will eat/harm me. And/But if it makes him annoyed/angry, you will truly know that he wants to kill me.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If he says ‘That’s alright,’ your servant will be saved. But if he becomes very angry, you will realize that he has no good thought for me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If he says (it) does-not matter, well, I will-not be-nervous. But if he gets-angry, very surely he has an intention/plan to-kill me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If your father says ‘That is okay’, then I know I will be safe. But if he becomes extremely angry, you will know that he is determined to harm me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese honorifics (1 Samuel 20:7)

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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, kesshin o shite-rare-ru (決心をしておられる) or “resolving” is used.

Also, a benefactive is used. Here, omotte (思って) or “think” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

angry (Japanese honorifics)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 that is translated as “angry” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-ikari (お怒り), combining “angry” (ikari) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

respectful form of "say/speak" (ossharu )

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, ossharu (おっしゃる), the respectful form of iu (言う) or “say / speak” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 20:7

If he says, ‘Good!’ may be awkward if translated literally in some languages. It will be more naturally rendered “If he agrees” or “If your father accepts the excuse.”

Your servant here and in verse 8 are indirect self-references. They will be better translated by first person singular pronouns in many languages. See page 12.

But: the common conjunction here serves to mark the contrast between the two possible reactions on the part of Saul after hearing the reason for David’s absence from the meal.

If he is angry: literally “if to be angry he is angry.” On the use of reinforcing verbs in Hebrew and their translation, see page 20. New American Bible attempts to reflect the emphatic nature of the construction in this context by saying “if he becomes quite angry.” Klein similarly has “if he gets really angry,” and Fox says “But if he is upset, yes, upset.”

Then know: the word then is supplied by Revised Standard Version but is not found in the Hebrew. The imperative form is understood by most interpreters to have a future tense meaning “you will know.”

Hebrew says only that evil is determined by him, without making explicit against whom the evil is intended. The context leaves no doubt that the evil is directed against David, and translators may wish to follow Good News Translation in making this information explicit.

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 .