messenger

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “messenger” in English is translated in Noongar as moort yana-waangki or “person walk-talk” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

think (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “think” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-kangae (お隠し), combining “think” (kangae) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also humble form of “think” (zonjiru), think and thinking.

condolences (Japanese honorifics)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

In these verses, the Hebrew that is translated as “condolences” or “consolers” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-kuyami (お答え), combining “condolences” (kuyami) with the respectful prefix o-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

complete verse (2 Samuel 10:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 10:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “But, the leaders of the Ammonites told their king, ‘Do you really think that David has sent these people to say sorry because he was in agreement with your father? Have these people not come to spy on our city so that they fight us?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “the Ammonite leaders said to their master, Hanun, "When you look, do you think that David has sent these men, thinking to honor your father? It is not like that. He has sent them to spy out our land in order to conquer it."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the officers of the Ammonhon said to Hanun their master, ‘Do- you -think David is-remembering your father by sending men to show/express sympathy to your sadness/[lit. difficulty]? Had- not he -sent them to spy our (incl.) town and destroy it?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “the leaders of the Ammon people-group said to Hanun, ‘Do you think that it is to honor your father that King David has sent these men to say that he is sorry that your father died ? We think that he has sent them here to look around the city to determine how his army can conquer us!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language 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 2 Samuel 10:3

But: since the reaction of the Ammonite leaders is contrary to what is expected, the Hebrew conjunction may be translated in this way. But this will depend to some extent on the structuring of the end of verse 2.

Princes: these were not sons of a king, as in English. Other versions have rendered it “officials” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “nobles” (New International Version), and “important men” (New Century Version). They may also have been military commanders (see discussion of this word at 1 Sam 8.12).

Their lord: this has the same root as the word that is sometimes used for God, but is also commonly used as a term of respect for people who rule others. Some languages may translate “their chief” or “their master.”

Is honoring your father: literally “is honoring your father in your eyes.” By qualifying the verb honoring with the word “really,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh emphasizes their doubt that David is sincere. New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible give the same effect by attaching “really” to the verb think earlier in the verse.

The city, that is, the capital city of the Ammonites, Rabbah (see 11.1; 12.26; also the comments on 1 Sam 11.1). In order to make the reference clearer, Contemporary English Version has the Ammonite officials say “our city.”

The purpose of the two questions asked by the Ammonite leaders is to cause hostility and destroy confidence between David and Hanun. The implication, of course, is that David is deceitful, and that he actually wants to conquer Hanun’s kingdom. In some languages it will be more natural to make these statements directly rather than by implication in the form of questions. It is possible, for example, to say something like:

• David is not sending comforters to you because he wants to honor your father. He is just sending them to look at the city so that he can take it over.

Or another possible model is:

• David is sending people only to pretend to show his sorrow, not because he really cared about your father. He only wants to see where our weak points are so that he can defeat us and make us his subjects.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .