self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (1 Samuel 28:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 28:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “David told Achish that, ‘Today, you will see what I am going to do!’ Achish told him that, ‘I will choose you to be my bodyguard forever.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “David answered Achish, "I know [quite] well, [and] you will see for yourself, what-all I am able to do for you." Then Achish said to David, "For as long as you live, "For as long as you live, I will make you my bodyguard."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David said, ‘Yes, you (sing.) will-see then what I can-do, your (sing.) servant.’ Akish replied, ‘Very good! I will-make you (sing.) my permanent bodyguard.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David replied, ‘We will go with you, and then you will see for yourself what we can do!’
    Achish said, ‘Okay, I will appoint you to be my bodyguard permanently.’” (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 .

know for certain / shall know / learn / understand (Japanese honorifics)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “know for certain,” “shall know,” “learn,” or “understand” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-wakari (お分かり), combining “understand” (wakari) with the respectful prefix o-.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also understand (Japanese honorifics) and understand / discern.

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 28:2

Very well, you shall know: the Septuagint says “Therefore you shall now know.” The Masoretic Text may be rendered “Very well [or, Assuredly], it is you who will know.” The pronoun you is emphatic and gives a strong contrast. In verse 1 Achish tells David “You know of course that you and your men are to go out with me in the army” and in verse 2 David replies, “Well, it is you who will know.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text.

Your servant: that is, David, since he is speaking of himself. This will be better translated “I am your servant.” Regarding the use of third person when speaking about oneself, see page 12 and following.

Bodyguard: literally “keeper of my head.” Compare 29.4, where the Philistine soldiers express fear that David, the “keeper of my head,” may turn against them and cut off their heads. A different Hebrew term is the basis for this same English word in the Revised Standard Version rendering of 22.14 and in 2 Sam 23.23. In those cases the Hebrew word refers to a group of people who would protect the king. In this verse the pronoun you is singular, showing that the reference is to an individual. According to Contemporary English Version, David and all of his men will be the bodyguards for Achish: “you and your men will always be my bodyguards.” Possibly this is the intended meaning, but since the Hebrew is singular, it is better to understand the permanent bodyguard as a reference to David alone. Surely Achish had other bodyguards, so the meaning may be that Achish made David his “chief bodyguard” (Fox).

For life: literally “all the days.” The meaning of this Hebrew idiom is correctly translated in English as “for life” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version) and “permanent [bodyguard]” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible).

For life is literally “all the days.” The idea is translated “permanently” by New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible as well as Good News Translation. In other languages it may be rendered in a way very similar to the Hebrew or by saying “all the time,” or by simply using the habitual form of the verb. Still others may say “as long as I live.”

The stage having been set for a battle between the Philistines and the Israelites, the scene now shifts to Saul’s exchange with the ghost of Samuel. The actual military confrontation is picked up again in chapter 29.

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 .