complete verse (1 Samuel 23:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 23:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “When David left that place, he went and stayed in a well-protected rock cleft called En-gedi.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then, going from there, David went to hide in the area of En-Gedi.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “From there, David went to En Gedi and hid there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David and his men also left the Maon Desert and went to places to hide safely at En-Gedi.” (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 23:29

From there: that is, from the region of the Maon Desert, described in verses 24 and 25.

Strongholds: see the comments on verse 14.

En-gedi: located on the west shore of the Dead Sea about twenty-nine kilometers (eighteen miles) southeast of Hebron, En-gedi was an oasis with fresh water and hot springs. The name En-gedi means “fountain [en] of the kid [baby goat].” Nueva Biblia Española translates the name here and elsewhere as “Fuentelchivo,” that is, “Fountain of the kid.” See 24.2, which mentions a place in En-gedi called “Wildgoats’ Rocks.”

The verse numbering of the Hebrew is different from Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation here. This verse is the beginning of chapter 24 in Hebrew. The numbering of verses in chapter 24 will therefore differ in various translations, depending on which system has been followed. See the discussion “Verse numbering problems in 1 and 2 Samuel” in the introductory section of this Handbook, which is entitled “Translating the Books of Samuel,” pages 10 and following.

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 .