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 9:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 9:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “Very early in the morning, Samuel woke/got up and called Saul. He told him that, ‘Come down! I want to escort you on the way.’ Saul came down and went outside with Samuel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In the morning, while it was dark, Samuel, calling Saul on the roof terrace, said, "Get up now, I will bid you farewell." Saul got up and both he and Samuel went out into the road.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and there Saul slept. In-the-morning, Samuel called-(to) Saul there on the roof. He said, ‘[You (sing.)] wash-(your)-face, for I will-let/have- you (plur.) -to-go-home.’ When Saul had- now -washed-(his)-face, Samuel and-company came-out.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “As the sun was rising the next morning, Samuel called up to Saul, ‘Get up! It is time for me to send you on the road back home.’ So Saul got up, and later Samuel and Saul left the house together.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (okite)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, okite (起きて) or “get up” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )