complete verse (1 Samuel 25:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 25:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “When those people where told those things, they went back to where David was and told him.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “David’s people coming back, went on their way and told all this to David.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The men of David returned and they told him what Nabal said.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then David’s men returned and told him what Nabal had said.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 25:12

This verse begins in Hebrew with the common conjunction. Good News Translation leaves the relationship of this verse to the preceding verse implicit. Compare, however, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh: “Thereupon David’s young men retraced their steps.”

The words all this in this case refer to Nabal’s arrogant rejection of David’s men, which is recorded in verses 10 and 11. It may be better to say “all that Nabal had said” (New Century Version). The Hebrew says “all these words.”

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 .