The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “concubine” in English is translated in Kutu as “slave made to be his woman” or “female slave he married” and similarly in Makonde, “a slave who is/was a wife.”
In Kwere it is translated as “small wife.” This is the term for subsequent wives when polygamy is practiced among the Kwere. While they enjoy most of the same rights and privileges as the first wife, their status is not necessarily the same. In Kalanga it is likewise translated with balongwana or “small wife.” (Source for all: project-specific notes in Paratext)
In Newari it is translated as “illegitimate wife” (source: Newari Back Translation).
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that shows a couple, in a legitimate union between a man and a woman with the left hand. The right hand refers to another woman, who is subordinate to the lawful wife; therefore, the X shape symbolizes “submission and obedience.” (Source: Missão Kophós )
The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “daughter of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system . This means that for instance in Luke 2:36 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Anna the daughter of Phanuel” becomes “Anna Fanúelsdóttir” or in Jeremiah 52:1 “Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah” becomes “Hamútal Jeremíadóttir” where in both cases the “-óttir” means “daughter of.
In cases where “daughter of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage (or is uncertain), however, this system is not used. So in 1 Chronicles 1:50 “Mehetabel daughter of Matred daughter of Me-zahab” is translated as “Mehetabeel, dóttir Matredar, dóttur Mesahabs.” (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)
Was told: this passive verb may be easily translated “heard” as in Good News Translation, or, changing the structure of the sentence, it may be better to say “When someone told David….”
The form of the Hebrew verb translated had done implies that the events described in this verse took place after Rizpah had completed her time of mourning. This should be made clear in translation.
The repetition of the detail explaining that Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah (see verses 8 and 10) may not need to be stated again in many languages, because to do so may sound unnatural.
The concubine of Saul: if this information is shifted to verse 10 above as suggested, it will probably be unnecessary to repeat it here. Without careful attention to the preceding verses, someone who reads this verse in Revised Standard Version may mistakenly think that Aiah was the concubine of Saul. But as 3.7 clearly states, Rizpah is the concubine.
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 .
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