Absalom (image)

Hand colored stencil print on momigami by Sadao Watanabe (1972).

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe.

For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

See also Absalom.

Absalom

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)


“Absalom” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Absalom (image).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Absalom .

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Sam 16:20)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai translation uses the inclusive pronoun, including everyone.

complete verse (2 Samuel 16:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 16:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Absalom asked Ahithophel that, ‘Please, you tell (us) how you see these words/matters. What should we do?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Please give me your advice. How should we proceed? [lit.: How should we do the work?]"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Absalom said to Ahitofel, ‘Tell me what we (incl.) are-going-to-do.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, ‘What do you advise that we should do?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 16:20

Then: this again reflects the common Hebrew conjunction and serves to indicate a continuation in the story. The next step is Absalom’s turning from Hushai to Ahithophel and asking his advice. This change is highlighted in Good News Translation when it translates the verb said by two different verbs, “turned … and said.”

Give your counsel: given the context, readers may think that Absalom is asking for advice on what to do about Hushai, but this is not the case. It is rather a question about what should be the next step in the process of consolidating power after having taken the capital city of Jerusalem. The Hebrew verb here is second person plural, as indicated in several French translations (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible Pléiade, and Osty-Trinquet). Robinson says “the Hebrew for ‘your’ is plural, which means that Absalom’s order is addressed to a circle of advisors. However, the only word that could count is Ahithophel’s. Ahithophel is probably the head of the council of advisors….” This explanation seems to make good sense of the plural verb. Fox translates this part of the verse as “Give (both of) you, advice.” But if Absalom is speaking to Ahithophel and to a council of advisors, then “both of you” is not recommended, since “both” will probably suggest two individuals to most readers.

What shall we do: Good News Translation restructures this so that the pronoun “us” may or may not include the person giving the counsel. In languages that distinguish between inclusive and exclusive forms of the first person plural pronoun, it will be necessary to decide whether we includes Ahithophel. It probably does include him.

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 .