Saul

The name that is transliterated as “Saul” in English means “asked for,” “demanded,” “required.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It 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 .

complete verse (1 Samuel 26:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 26:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “One day the people of the city of Siph came and told Saul in Gibeah that David had hidden himself in Jeshimon in/at the hill of Hakilah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “One of those days, there-were those who came-from-Zif who went to Saul at Gibea and said, ‘David is-hiding in the hills/mountains of Hakila, which faces Jeshimon.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One day some of the people of Ziph town went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, ‘David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon town.’” (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 26:1

Based on the fact that some people from the city of Ziph had come to Saul previously at Gibeah (23.19), Contemporary English Version begins this chapter with the words “Once again,” and La Bible du Semeur adds the word “again” later in the verse.

Concerning the rhetorical question of the Ziphites and its translation, see the comments on 23.19. Good News Translation restructures and eliminates the direct quotation. Also the Revised Standard Version rendering is in the form of a question. This reflects the Hebrew original, but the question is probably better translated as a statement (whether as direct or indirect discourse), since the speakers were clearly not asking for information but were telling Saul what he did not know.

The hill of Hachilah … east of Jeshimon: see the comments on 23.19.

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 .