complete verse (1 Samuel 30:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 30:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those Amalekites went with two wives of David, those were: Ahinoam and Abigail.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal of Carmel’s former wife had also been captured and taken away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The two wives of David had- also -been-captured — Ahinoam who came-from-Jezreel and Abigail who (was) the former wife of Nabal who came-from-Carmel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had also been taken away.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 30:5

David’s two wives … Ahino-am … and Abigail: see 27.3. Since these two wives have been identified earlier in 1 Sam (25.39-43; 27.3), Good News Translation omits the information that Ahinoam was from Jezreel and that Abigail was the widow of Nabal of Carmel. Since these two wives were last identified in chapter 27, translators may wish to follow the form of the Hebrew here and include this information.

Had been taken captive: the passive construction may be avoided by rearranging the elements of this verse and saying that “The enemies [or, The Amalekites] had also taken away” David’s two wives.

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 .