complete verse (1 Samuel 9:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 9:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Saul went with his slave/servant, and when they were entering into that city, they met Samuel going to the place for burning sacrifices/altar.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Saul and his servant went to the city. As they were entering the city, there was Samuel, coming toward them up to the Place of worship.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So they went-up to the town/city. And as they were-entering, they saw/found Samuel coming-towards them going to the high place.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Saul and the servant entered the town. As they went through the gates, they saw Samuel as he was coming toward them, on the way to where people were going to offer sacrifices.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 9:14

They went up: since Saul and his servant have already been described as going “up the hill to the city” (verses 10 and 11), some may prefer to translate here “continued their approach to the city” or “kept going up to the city.”

As they were entering the city: with a small change in spelling, the Hebrew word for city becomes “gate.” Some interpreters propose that the Masoretic Text originally said “as they were entering the gate [of the city]” (see verse 18), and this proposed correction is the basis for the translations found in Osty-Trinquet and New Jerusalem Bible. The preliminary report of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gave a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text. But the final report omits any mention of this problem, perhaps because there is so little real difference in meaning.

Samuel is finally identified as “the man of God” about whom the servant spoke in verses 6-10.

Samuel is described as coming out in the direction of Saul and his servant. Apparently he had gone into the city ahead of them and a few minutes later started out toward the place where the sacrifice would be offered.

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 .