complete verse (1 Samuel 25:43)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 25:43:

  • Kupsabiny: “David later on married another wife who was called Ahinoam from Jezreel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. The two of them became his wives.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David also married Ahinoam who came-from-Jezreel, and the two of them (were) his wives.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David had previously married Ahinoam, a woman from Jezreel town near Carmel. So both Abigail and Ahinoam were now David’s wives.” (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 25:43

In this context the verb took means “took as his wife” and may therefore be translated “married” (Good News Translation). The form of the verb seems to indicate that this marriage had taken place before David met Abigail. For this reason a number of modern versions translate using the pluperfect verb form “had [also] married” (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). But the Hebrew may be understood either way.

Ahino-am is probably not to be identified with the woman of the same name who was Saul’s wife (14.50). Jezreel was a village in the territory of Judah, near Maon and Carmel (see verse 2 and also Josh 15.55-56).

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 .