complete verse (2 Samuel 15:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 15:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, David told Ittai that, ‘Okay then, you come and we go.’ Ittai then passed with all his men together with their people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then David responded to Ittai, "Good! Walk in front!" So Ittai the Gittite’s whole group, all the people who came went with him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David said to him, ‘If that-is-the-case, go-ahead/okay, you (plur.) come-along-with us (excl.).’ So Itai and all his men, and their families walked-on.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David replied to Ittai, ‘Okay, march with us!’ So Ittai and all his troops and their families went with David.” (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 15:22

Go then, pass on: Ittai and his men are given permission to continue marching with the rest of David’s group. The verb translated pass on is often used of crossing over a river or stream. It is apparently for this reason that Knox has “pass on over the stream.” The context of the next verse also lends some support to this interpretation.

It may be necessary in certain languages to transform the direct quotation of this verse into indirect discourse. Possible models are “So David agreed, telling them that they could join him” or “David then accepted their request and told them to advance.”

The little ones who were with him: this expression almost certainly refers to more than just infant children. For this reason modern English versions use words like “families” (New International Version, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, and Contemporary English Version) and “dependents” (New American Bible, Revised English Bible, and Anderson as well as Good News Translation). It may be a mistake to translate “children” as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New Jerusalem Bible, if the reader may understand this to exclude the women and older people who were unable to take care of themselves.

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 .