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 .

complete verse (2 Samuel 18:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 18:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then ten men who carried for Joab things of war/weapons went and surrounded Absalom and finished (him).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then ten of Joab’s weapons bearers surrounded Absalom, attacked [and] killed him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Absalom was- also -surrounded by the ten armor-bearers of Joab, and killed him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then ten young men who carried weapons for Joab surrounded Absalom and finished killing him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 18:15

Ten young men: that is, ten soldiers. These soldiers are further described as armor-bearers. Their usual job was to carry armor for Joab and fight alongside him during the battle. They were something like “bodyguards” (Contemporary English Version). Good News Translation‘s “soldiers” is not a good model here, because it is not as specific as the Hebrew.

Killed him: that is, they finished the task already started by Joab himself. This is reworded in New American Bible to say “killed him with further blows.” Others may prefer to say “finished the job of killing 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 .