וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לְאֶבְיָתָ֗ר יָדַ֜עְתִּי בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ כִּֽי־שָׁם֙ דויג הָאֲדֹמִ֔י כִּֽי־הַגֵּ֥ד יַגִּ֖יד לְשָׁא֑וּל אָנֹכִ֣י סַבֹּ֔תִי בְּכָל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ׃
22David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the lives of all your father’s house.
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Saul” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign that depicts “sword in chest” (referring to 1 Samuel 31:4 and 1 Chronicles 10:4) and also “self-centered.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
“Saul” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España
The name that is transliterated as “Abiathar” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “priest” and “last.” Abiathar was a priest during the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon. He was also the last priest in the lineage of Eli (1 Kings 2:27). (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Abiathar” in Libras (source )
The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language 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 )
The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”
As in verse 18 above, Good News Translation omits the words the Edomite for reasons of style (but see the comments on verse 9). But in some languages it will be quite natural to retain the word to emphasize the fact that Doeg was not an Israelite.
On that day refers to the day when David received Goliath’s sword from Ahimelech (see 21.7-9). New Century Version restructures, making a separate sentence of this element: “Doeg the Edomite was there at Nob that day.”
I have occasioned: the Hebrew says “I have turned.” When the first consonant of the Hebrew verb is changed, the verb changes from “I have turned” to “I am responsible.” That latter is the reading found in the Septuagint and in the ancient Syriac and Latin translations. It is adopted by New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible, as well as Good News Translation. But there is, in fact, very little real difference in meaning between the renderings of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh claims in a footnote to be trying to translate an uncertain Hebrew text that says “I am to blame.”
All the persons of your father’s house: some other models for this phrase are “your father’s whole family” (New International Version) or “all the rest of your family.”
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 .