broad place

The Hebrew that is translated as “broad place” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) as (ku)malo otakasuka or “comfortable place.” This is referring to a place that has more space. The comfort is based on the wideness of space available. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

complete verse (2 Samuel 21:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 21:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, (the) Israelites fought again with the Philistines at Gath. There was in that war a very tall person and he belonged to/descended from those people who were big and fierce. That person had six fingers on each hand/arm and six toes on each foot/leg.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Again [another] battle took place in Gath. On [each of] his hands and feet there were six digits [fingers or toes], that is to say he was a man who looked like a giant with 24 digits. He was also a descendant of Rapha.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Once-again the Filistinhon and the Israelinhon fought, and it happened there at Gat. In this battle, there was a very big man, with six fingers on each hand and feet. He was also one of the descendants of the Rafas.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Later there was another battle near Gath. There was a huge man/giant there who liked to fight in battles. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He was descended from the Rapha giants.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 21:20

There was again war: the same expression as seen in verses 15, 18, and 19, which marks another episode in this section.

A man of great stature: the traditional Hebrew text actually has something that appears to mean “a man of Midian,” but no known translation follows this. Revised Standard Version and most other English versions adapt the reading suggested in the margin of the Masoretic Text here, which is similar to what is found in the parallel at 1 Chr 20.4. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls have “a man of quarrel,” which means “a quarrelsome person.” Good News Translation seems to translate both meanings when it says “a giant who loved to fight.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project does not deal with this textual problem, and translators are advised to follow the text reflected in Revised Standard Version.

Twenty-four in number: this summary statement may not work well in languages that have totally different terms for fingers and toes. They may have to say “twelve fingers and twelve toes.” But in languages where the same word is used, it may be perfectly natural to summarize in this way.

Descended from the giants: see the comments at verse 16. In verse 16 an adjective is used in Hebrew, whereas here the Hebrew uses a verb, but the meaning is the same.

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 .