family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” 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 .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (1 Samuel 23:23)

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

  • Kupsabiny: “And when you (plur.) establish where he is hiding from, come back to me with the truth so that we all go together. And if I establish that he is there, I will look for him all over that land of Judah.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Find that all the places where he is hiding and come quickly to bring me the news. Do this work properly and then I will go with you. However, if he is not staying there in the area, by searching I will find and bring him even if I have to search the whole land of Judah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (plur.)] find-out/learn all his hiding-places, and [you (plur.)] come-back/return here to me when very sure (of the information). Then I will-go-with/accompany you (plur.); and if he (is) still in a certain place I will-look/search for him even-if I will-walk-throughout the whole land of Juda.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Find out all the places where he and his men hide. Then come back and tell me everything that you have found out. Then I will take my army and go there with you. If David is in any of the clans/caves of Judah, we will search for him and find him!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 23:23

See therefore, and take note: literally “and see and know.” But the two imperatives constitute a strong urging by Saul for the people of Ziph to “look around and learn” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version) or to “take careful note” (New Jerusalem Bible) of the different places where David was likely to hide.

Lurking places where he hides: although the Revised Standard Version rendering fails to show it, both the noun (literally “hiding places”) and the verb in this expression have the same root in Hebrew. Since it may be unnatural to be so repetitious in some languages, translators may prefer to say simply “the various places where he usually hides.”

With sure information: both here and in 26.4, where the same expression occurs, Revised English Bible says “at such and such a place,” but most understand this as a statement of certainty. New Jerusalem Bible translates “and come back to me when you are certain.” This expression consists of a preposition and a verbal form, the root of which means “to stand firm” or “to be stable.” Most understand the force to be that of an adverb expressing certainty.

According to verse 14 David was hiding in the Wilderness of Ziph in southern Judah. The Hebrew noun translated land sometimes refers to the whole earth, but in this context it refers to the “region” (Good News Translation, New American Bible) or the “country” (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant) of Judah.

All the thousands of Judah: here as in 10.19 thousands probably refers to “clans.” Good News Translation turns the focus away from searching groups of people to searching the land itself. La Bible Pléiade says “among all the clans of Judah.” Another helpful model is Revised English Bible, “I shall hunt him down, if I have to go through all the clans of Judah one by one” (New International Version, Contemporary English Version, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible are similar). This understanding of the text seems preferable to that of Good News Translation.

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 .