complete verse (2 Samuel 17:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 17:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “David and his people began to cross the river Jordan. By the time it was morning, all the people had already crossed that water where not even one remained.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So David and all his group crossed over the Jordan river in a great hurry. Then in the morning when it was [still] dark, there was no one who had not arrived on the other side of the river.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So David and his men crossed-over the River Jordan, and by daybreak all of them were there now at the other-side.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So David and all his soldiers quickly started to cross the Jordan River, and by dawn they had all crossed to the other side.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Jordan

The Hebrew, Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “Jordan” means “descending (rapidly),” “flowing down.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the river bordering Jordan and Israel, along with the general sign for river. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Jordan river” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jordan River .

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 17:22

Then: what happens next is the result of the advice given in the previous verse. The common conjunction therefore serves as a logical connector. Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible, like Good News Translation, begin the sentence with “So….”

The use of the verb form in the singular, arose, followed by mention of the additional subject, all the people who were with him, is common in Hebrew, but such word order may be very awkward in other languages. The meaning is clearly that David and all his men acted together, but the focus is on David. As has been noted elsewhere, the verb arose does not mean they were necessarily sitting or lying down. The sense if that they started doing something.

By daybreak: literally “until the light of morning.” Contemporary English Version translates “By sunrise,” while New Jerusalem Bible and New Century Version have “by dawn.”

Not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan: the two negatives in this statement cancel each other so that the meaning is positive and rather emphatic. This may be better translated in a positive way in certain languages. It will be possible, for example, to say “every single one of them had crossed the Jordan” or something similar.

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 .