The Hebrew that is translated as “steadfast love,” “lovingkindness” (Goldingay 2018: “commitment”) or similar in English is translated in a number of ways:
Vidunda: “love of enduring” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Bura-Pabir: “love which cannot be-changed” (hyirkur na a palidzi wa)
HausaCommon Language Bible “his love without changing” (kaunarsa marar canjawa) (source for this and above: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
Elhomwe: “love that does not finish” (echikondi yoohisintheya) (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Nyamwezi: chelu, combining “love,” “faithfulness,” “loyalty,” and “kindness” (source: James Lundeen)
Newari: dayāmāyā (दयामाया), a compound word made from two Sanskrit-derived terms: dayā (दया) or “compassion, mercy, kindness” and māyā (माया) or “love, affection” (source: Newari Back Translation)
In Pijintinghevi long or “think heavy about” is used. “The Pijin expression ‘think heavy about’ is very much within the domain of committed relationships. The relationship between father and child, husband and wife, God and His people. There is a very strong element of ‘loyalty’ in this expression.” (Source: Bob Carter)
In Latvian the term žēlastība is used both for “steadfast love” and grace.
In a number of languages, the terms for for “steadfast love” and mercy are used interchangeably.
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.
While the Englishmercy originates from the Latinmerces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan, Friulian) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”
The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Absalom” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs depicting “hair + caught” referring to 2 Samuel 18:9. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 16:17:
Kupsabiny: “Then, Absalom said to Hushai that, ‘Why did you not go with your friend David? So you no longer like your friend because he has abandoned you!’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Absalom asked him, "Where has the devotion shown for your friend David gone? Why have you not gone with your friend?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Absalom asked Hushai, ‘Where is now your loyalty to your friend David? Why did- you not -go with him?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Absalom said to Hushai, ‘You have been loyal to your friend David for a long time. So why did you not go with him instead of coming to me?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And: the beginning of a new paragraph may be adequate translation of the common transition word in this case.
The question Is this your loyalty…? is really a way of expressing surprise that Hushai, who was known for his closeness to David, had apparently abandoned his old friend. He does not really expect an answer to this question. It may conceivably be translated “You have been so loyal to your friend David. I am surprised that you are doing this!” The word translated loyalty is the same as discussed under 2.5 and 3.8.
Apparently Hushai’s friendship with David was well known even before these events took place. Absalom refers to David twice as your friend. But it will be helpful to ensure that readers in other languages know without any doubt that David is intended. It is for this reason that Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch say “your friend David,” although the second occurrence of the expression is replaced by a pronoun. Compare also Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, “… your friend? Why haven’t you followed David?”
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 .
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