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 17:6)

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 and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the inclusive pronoun, including everyone.

complete verse (2 Samuel 17:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 17:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “When Hushai had come, Absalom said to (him) that, ‘This is the word that Ahithophel told us. Should we follow his word or do you have a word/advice? And if it is not like that, tell us what we should do.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Hushai came and Absalom told him everything that Ahithophel had said, [and asked], "Ahithophel gave us advice like that. Should we do like he said or not? If we should not do like he said, what should we do? You tell us."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So when Hushai arrived Absalom told him what Ahitofel advised. Then Absalom said, ‘Shall- we (incl.) -do what he said? If not, what should- we (incl.) -do?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So when Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had suggested. Then he asked Hushai, ‘What do you think we should do? If you do not think that we should do what Ahithophel suggests, tell us what you think that we should do.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 17:6

Absalom said to him: literally “Absalom said to him, saying….”

Thus has Ahithophel spoken: there is obviously something that has been left to the understanding of the reader at this point. The word Thus, literally “According to this word,” is an indication that Absalom explained to Hushai in some detail the plan that Ahithophel had proposed. But in very many languages it may be better to make the first part of the quotation indirect rather than direct. The translation may read something like “Absalom told him what Ahithophel had proposed and then asked…” or “Absalom reported the plan recommended by Ahithophel. Then he asked Hushai….”

You speak: that is, “you make a different proposal,” “what do you say?” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “can you come up with anything better?” (Contemporary English Version). Absalom was giving Hushai an opportunity to suggest a different plan in the event that he did not agree with the one made by Ahithophel. The pronoun you may be understood as emphatic in the Hebrew. In English this emphasis can be shown in print by the use of italic font. Fox, for example, says “If not, you speak.” But translators should use other means if they are available, in order to communicate the meaning to the hearers as well as to the readers.

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 .