complete verse (2 Samuel 18:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 18:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “David was sitting at the gate of that town. A guard was at/on the top of the wall by the gate. Then, that guard saw a person running alone.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At that time David was sitting between the two gates. The one standing guard went to where the guard of the main gate of the wall was staying, and when he went to look, he saw one man coming, running alone.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “While David was-sitting between the two gates which is in the outer and inner part of the stone-wall of the city, the one-who-watches the town climbed-up on the stone-wall and stood on the roof of the entrance/gate of the city. While he was-looking-out, he saw a man running.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David was sitting between the outer gate and the inner gate of the city. The watchman/lookout went up on top of the city wall and stood on the roof over the gates. He looked out and saw one man running alone.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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 18:24

Now: this is a translation of the common Hebrew conjunction that may be better left untranslated in this context. It serves merely to join the different parts of the story. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation begin a new paragraph at this point.

Between the two gates: this should not be taken to mean that David was sitting at some point along the wall between two different gates leading to the outside of the city. Gates to fortified cities were often built in the form of a tower and in fact consisted of two gates, one at the outside of the wall and another on the inside. There was therefore a space between these two gates along the path that a person had to take to enter the city. In this area there may have been one or more rooms for guards. David was probably in such a room. The fact that the king was sitting here seems to indicate that he was anxiously awaiting news from the field of battle. Translators are advised to follow the lead of those modern English versions that speak of “inner and outer gates” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, and Contemporary English Version as well as Good News Translation).

The roof of the gate by the wall: the structure that included the gates to the city had flat roofs like the ordinary dwellings. But these were particularly well suited for keeping watch and protecting the city. The lookout went up to the roof and from that vantage point saw a single runner coming.

Lifted up his eyes: see the comments on 13.34; 1 Sam 6.13.

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 .