complete verse (1 Samuel 30:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 30:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “When David and his people entered that city, they saw that the city had been set ablaze and their wives plus the children had been taken.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When David and his men reached Ziklag, they saw that the city had been destroyed, and its women and children had been taken away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David and his men saw that their place (was) now burned, and their wives and children were-no- longer -there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When David and his men came to Ziklag, they saw that the town had been burned, and that their wives and sons and daughters had been captured and taken away.” (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 30:3

The city, that is, Ziklag.

Burned with fire: see the comments at verse 1.

Sons and daughters: in some languages it will be more natural to say simply “children.”

Both burned and taken captive represent passive forms in Hebrew, but in those languages where the two passive forms present problems, translators may wish to restructure along the following lines:

• When David and his men got back to the city, they saw that the enemies had burned it down and had captured and taken away their wives and children.

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 .