Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Bethlehem

The town name that is transliterated as “Bethlehem” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the signs signifying “manger + town” (referring to Luke 2:7). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Bethlehem” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

See also manger.

In American Sign Language it is translated with the signs for “bread” and “house,” referring to the original meaning of “Bethlehem” as “house of bread.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Bethlehem” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Bethlehem .

complete verse (2 Samuel 23:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 23:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “When David was in that cave which was guarded, the Philistines had earlier pitched/built a big camp there in Bethlehem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At that time David was in the fortress and one group of Philistine soldiers was staying in Bethlehem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and they took-by-force Betlehem. While David was there at the strong/firm place-of-hiding,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David and his soldiers were in the cave because it was safe there, and another group of Philistia soldiers was occupying Bethlehem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language 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 23:14

Then: this adverb of time is used twice in this verse, but both seem to refer to the same time and so may be translated by a single term in many languages. It was while David was at his stronghold that the Philistine forces were occupying Bethlehem.

The word stronghold is sometimes translated “fortress” and is generally thought to refer to a high place that is well protected. However, in this case (as in 1 Sam 22.1-5) the word seems to be used as another way of speaking of the cave of Adullam. Since this was a protected place, the identification of the cave as the stronghold is not unreasonable. This means that the Good News Translation rendering is probably off the mark. New Century Version perhaps translates more correctly, “in a protected place.”

The word translated garrison is used in 1 Sam 13.23 and frequently in 1 Sam 14. The English word usually refers to a more or less permanent military installation. Another way of saying that the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem is to say “the Philistine soldiers had taken up positions in the town of Bethlehem” or “… had taken control of Bethlehem” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

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 .