Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

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

Saul

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

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 .

messenger

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “messenger” in English is translated in Noongar as moort yana-waangki or “person walk-talk” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

complete verse (1 Samuel 23:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 23:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Saul got a message saying that, ‘Hurry and come because the Philistines have attacked the land.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At that time a messenger arrived there, and said to Saul, "Come back quickly from here! The Philistines have come to attack the country."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “there-was a messenger for Saul and (he) said, ‘Hurry, go-back/return for-a-while! For the Filistinhon are-attacking our (incl.) nation.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But then a messenger came to Saul and said to him, ‘Come quickly! The Philistia army is attacking the people in our land!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (kīte)

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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, kite (来て) or “come” 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. )

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 23:27

The verb come in the words of the messenger obviously means “return,” since Saul had just left Gibeah (see verse 19). In some languages there exists a single verb that will translate both the idea of hurrying (Make haste) and returning, similar to “hurry back” in English. Such a verb would be quite appropriate in this context.

The land refers to the “country” (New Jerusalem Bible) or territory over which Saul ruled as king, that is, the land of Israel. No doubt the messenger, like Saul, was an Israelite. For this reason Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “the Philistines have invaded our territory.” If translators choose to follow this model, it will be necessary to use the inclusive first person plural pronoun in languages that have that form.

The direct quotation of this verse may be made into indirect discourse according to the following model:

• Suddenly a messenger came to Saul and told him to hurry back home, because the Philistines had attacked the land of Israel.

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 .