complete verse (2 Samuel 11:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 11:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Joab sent message to David about the way the war was.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After that Joab sent a man to David giving all the news about the battle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Joab sent a news to David concerning all that happened in the battle.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Joab sent a messenger to David to tell him about the fighting.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated 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 11:18

Sent and told: yet another use of the two-verb construction, where the verb “send” has no grammatical object in the sentence. The meaning is that Joab “sent someone to tell…,” “sent a messenger” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or, as New American Bible puts it, “sent David a report.” The implied object of the verb “send” is expressed already in the following verse as “the messenger.” The message is worded in such a way as to be fully meaningful only to David.

All the news about the fighting: literally “all the matters [or, words] of the battle.” This involved the details about the particular battle in which Uriah had been killed. Good News Translation omits the word “all,” but there is no clear reason why this should be done. New American Bible offers a helpful model, with “all the details of the battle.”

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 .