wicked, worthless

The Hebrew that is translated as “worthless” or “wicked” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “whose head is bad” (1Sam. 25:17) or “people whose intentions are black” (i.e., greedy) (1Sam. 30:22).

See also worthless men.

scoundrel

The Hebrew that is translated as “scoundrel” or “worthless person” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “troublemaker” and Kutu as “very evil person.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Sam 30:22)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the inclusive pronoun, including everyone.

complete verse (1 Samuel 30:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 30:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “But among those people who came from the battle, there were some who were selfish and loved quarrelling. Those people said that, ‘We shall not share anything with those people who did not manage to go for war with us. So/Therefore, each one among those people should just get his wife plus his children and then leave.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But many troublemakers and rogues who went with David criticized him like this, "These men did not come with us. We also will not give them any of the property we retrieved [lit.: snatched] and brought. Let each of them just take his wife, and his sons and daughters."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But the bad and worthless men of David said, ‘We (incl.) will- not -share/divide with them of what we have-taken-by-force/seized/plundered from the Amaleknon. Because they did- not -accompany/go-with us (incl.). Just return to them their wives and children, and have- them -go.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But some of the men who had gone with David, men who were evil and troublemakers, said, ‘These 200 men did not go with us. So we should not give to them any of the things that we recovered/captured. Each of them should take only his wife and children and go back to their homes.’” (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 30:22

Base fellows: literally “[men of] Belial.” See the comments on 1.16.

Because they did not go with us: literally “Because they did not go with me” (so Fox). It is not clear whether Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are following the Septuagint and those Hebrew manuscripts that read us, or whether they read the plural for translation reasons. Hebrew uses the singular pronoun “me” here to indicate or underline the fact that this viewpoint is that of each of the wicked and base fellows. Compare Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, “Since they didn’t come with me, we won’t give them any of the spoil that we have taken.” The following verbs (give and recovered), however, are first person plural. Although Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the singular pronoun of the Masoretic Text, in many languages it will be natural to say “with us.”

New Century Version says “These 200 men didn’t go with us,” making it quite clear to whom the pronoun they refers.

In those languages where indirect discourse is preferred, the following model is suggested for this verse:

• But some of the men who had gone with David were worthless troublemakers; they insisted that, since those other men didn’t go along on the raid, they should not get any of the loot. They wanted them to just take their wives and children and go away.

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 .