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)
The name that is transliterated as “Abiathar” in English means “father of plenty,” “father of the great one.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated 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 )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 22:22:
Kupsabiny: “David said that, ‘I had known that it might happen like this. When I had seen Doeg that day, comrades, I knew right away that he was going to tell Saul. I am the one who caused the death of all your family.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then David said to him, "Doeg the Edomite was staying there that day and I knew he would tell Saul everything. I am the reason for the death of your father’s whole family.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Then David said to Abiatar, ‘That-time when I saw Doeg when I came to Ahimelec, I knew that he would- surely -tell Saul. So I am-to-answer/am-responsible for the death of your (sing.) whole family.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then David said to him, ‘That man from the Edom people-group, Doeg, was there at Nob on the day that I was there. I knew that he would surely tell Saul what happened. So it is my fault that your father and all of his family have been killed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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 .
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