14He said to her, “What is his appearance?” She said, “An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did obeisance.
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)
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Samuel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “listen” referring to 1 Samuel 3:10. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 28:14:
Kupsabiny: “Saul asked that woman that, ‘How is (it/he)?’ That woman said that, ‘An old man wearing a long coat.’ When that woman talked like that, Saul realized that it was Samuel’s spirit. He prostrated face down.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Saul asked, ‘What (is) his appearance/form?’ He replied, ‘An old man who has a cover/cloak-for-the-back/cape.’ Then Saul knew that (it was) Samuel, and he knelt-down as a respect to him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Saul said, ‘What does he look like?’ The woman replied, ‘An old man wearing a robe is appearing.’ Then Saul knew that it was Samuel. So he bowed down with his face touching the ground.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, sugata o shiteo-rare-ru (姿をしておられる) or “having the appearance of,” kiteo-rare-ru (着ておられる) or “wearing,” and ko-rare-ru (来られる) or “come” are used.
In languages that do not distinguish masculine and feminine pronouns, it may be necessary to substitute a noun at the beginning of this verse to make it clear that it is Saul who is speaking. Also, since a question follows, the verb said may be translated “asked.”
Wrapped in a robe: learning that the old man was wearing a robe was apparently enough for Saul to know that the old man was Samuel (see 15.27).
Bowed … to the ground, and did obeisance: see the comment on 20.41.
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 .
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