complete verse (2 Samuel 23:23)

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

  • Kupsabiny: “That matter made also the name of Benaiah famous/well-known, but he did not reach to (the level of) the thirty men. Those thirty men respected Benaiah a lot. Then David gave Benaiah to be in charge of the soldiers he guarded him (his body guards).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He had much more honor than those thirty men. But he was not among the three. David chose him as leader of his body guard.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “but he was not included among them. And because he was the most-famous among his 30 companions, David made- him -leader/[lit. head] of his bodyguards.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He was more honored than the other members of the group of thirty great warriors, but not as famous as the three greatest warriors. David appointed him to be the commander of his bodyguards.” (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 23:23

Instead of the thirty, some texts have “the heroes.” The same is true of the following verse. But “thirty” is recommended in both cases by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. If translators read “thirty” in the previous verse, it is possible to use the pronoun “them” in this case.

Renowned: while this is similar in Hebrew to the statement in verse 19, Revised Standard Version does not use the superlative expression here.

But he did not attain to the three: see verse 19.

Set him over his bodyguard: in some languages it will be more natural to say “made him chief…” or “named him as leader….” On the word bodyguard see 1 Sam 28.2. It is not clear whether this refers to the Cherethites and Pelethites (8.18; 15.18; 20.7, 23; and compare also 1 Sam 30.14) or to a different group. But translators will be well advised to use a more general term or expression here. Some may say “the group of soldiers who guarded him [King David].”

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 .