Saul

The name that is transliterated as “Saul” in English means “asked for,” “demanded,” “required.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It 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

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about King Saul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Saul .

complete verse (1 Samuel 23:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 23:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “So, David with his people left the city of Keilah. Those people were amounting to about six hundred. They roamed from one place to another, but soon Saul got word that David had fled from the city of Keilah. At that time, Saul did not go to that city.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So David and his 600 men left Keila, and they kept-moving from place (to place). When Saul heard-the-news that David fled from Keila, he did- not -go there anymore.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So David and his 600 men left Keilah. They continued to move from one place to another, wherever they thought that Saul would not find them. And when Saul found out that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated 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 )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 23:13

David and his men … arose: literally “David arose and his men.” The focus is on David in the Hebrew, since the verb arose is singular.

Arose: see verse 4. In this context the idea may be communicated by an adverbial expression like “at once” (Good News Translation) or “fast” (Contemporary English Version).

They went wherever they could go: see the same expression in 2 Sam 15.20. David and his men “moved about from place to place” (Revised English Bible) in order to avoid being captured by Saul. Another way of conveying the intended meaning may be to say “they went wherever they might be safe” or “they moved from place to place in order to avoid being captured.”

Saul was told: the text does not state who told Saul. In some languages it will be necessary to use an indefinite subject and an active verb: “they told Saul.” In other cases it will be more natural to say “someone told Saul.”

Escaped: see the comments on 19.10.

He gave up the expedition: literally “he stopped [or, discontinued] to go.” Others have translated “he did not go there” (New International Version) and “he decided not to go after him” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .