I have escaped from the camp of Israel

The Hebrew that is translated as “I have escaped from the camp of Israel” or similar in English is translated in Chadian Arabic as “I am from the Israelite army and have escaped from the battle” to avoid suggesting that this Amakelite had something to fear from within the Israelite camp. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

complete verse (2 Samuel 1:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 1:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “David asked that person that, ‘Where are you coming from?’ That person replied, ‘I am escaping/fleeing from soldiers of Israel.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “David asked him, "Where have you come from?"
    He said, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David asked him, ‘Where have- you (sing.) -come-from?’ He answered, ‘I have-escaped from the camp of the Israelinhon.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David asked him, ‘Where have you come from?’ The man replied, ‘I escaped from where the Israeli army had been camped.’” (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 1:3

One or both of the direct quotations in this verse may be more naturally rendered as indirect in some languages. Revised English Bible, for example, turns the first quotation into an indirect quotation: “David asked him where he had come from.” The essential meaning will not be affected by doing so.

Where do you come from? The Revised Standard Version wording in English may be misleading. New Revised Standard Version reads as Good News Translation. This question is not intended to inquire about the origin or native village of the messenger. It has to do rather with where he had been most recently before coming to David. The same words in the Revised Standard Version rendering of verse 13 below represent a somewhat different Hebrew text, and the meaning is also different.

Escaped: this verb in English often implies previous capture or imprisonment, but here the idea is more like getting out of a difficult situation. The root verb is related to a word meaning to be smooth or slippery and could be rendered “I slipped away from…” or “I ran away from…,” although most English versions use the verb “escape” as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation in this verse. Elsewhere, however, it is translated “flee.” See the comments on 1 Sam 19.10.

From the camp of Israel: the meaning is not that the young man was a prisoner in the camp of Israel, but rather that he escaped from the Philistines. For this reason Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provides a good model: “I have escaped from the Philistines.” The man’s answer may also be rendered “I have come from Saul’s camp, where I escaped from the Philistines.”

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 .