Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Saul

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)


“Saul” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about King Saul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Saul .

complete verse (1 Samuel 31:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 31:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the people of Jabesh in Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The people of Jabesh-gilead heard what all the Philistines had done to Saul’s body,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Those (who were) from-Jabesh Gilead heard-the-news of what the Filistinhon had-done to Saul.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When the people who lived in Jabesh in the Gilead region heard what the Philistines had done to Saul’s corpse,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 31:11

Jabesh-gilead: better translated “Jabesh in Gilead” or “the city of Jabesh in the region of Gilead” (see the comments on 11.1). The inhabitants of this city had been rescued by Saul when King Nahash of Ammon had threatened them (11.1-11).

Heard: the Hebrew is literally “heard to him.” But almost all versions consider the addition of the pronoun to be a scribal error and follow the Septuagint, which omits it.

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 .