privately

The Greek in Matthew 18:15 that is translated with some rendering of “in private” in English versions is translated in most German versions with the idiom unter vier Augen (“under four eyes”) which means “privately” or “confidentially.” (See also the Hebrew equivalent in 2 Samuel 3:27.)

complete verse (2 Samuel 3:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 3:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, those people returned Abner to Hebron. Then Joab took Abner aside to the gate of the city as if he wanted to eat/share news with him where no one could see. But Joab pierced Abner immediately in the stomach so he died taking revenge for his brother Asahel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Abner came back to Hebron. At that time Joab, taking [him] away with him alone [lit.: to a place not having anyone] pretending to discuss (some) matter, he took him away to a place near the main gate. Then by piercing his stomach with a knife [he] killed Abner to take revenge for Asahel, his younger brother.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Abner (was/is) now at Hebron, Joab took him to the entrance/gate of the town just by themselves for as-if they two have something to talk-about. And there Joab stabbed Abner in the belly/stomach as a pay-back to Abner for killing his sibling Asahel. And Abner died.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab met him at the city gate, and took him aside as though he wanted to speak with him privately. Then he stabbed Abner in the stomach with his knife/sword. In that way he murdered Abner because Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 3:27

Took him aside into the midst of the gate: the word midst is misleading although it is based on the Hebrew text. Many scholars feel that the Hebrew text available today does not represent what the original author wrote. Some manuscript evidence points to the possibility that the original word meant “the side” rather than “the middle,” although the reading “the side” is rejected by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament. The layout of a typical city gate in biblical times is totally foreign to most readers today. It was, in fact, a whole building, and, in addition to the opening in the wall that permitted people to enter and leave the city, there were on either side (and sometimes above the gate) small rooms where various activities took place. Joab probably took Abner into one of these secluded places where their movements would not be noticed by the crowds of people around the gate area. In view of the textual variant, many versions say something like “took him aside,” but the meaning is made clearer in Contemporary English Version, “took Abner into one of the small rooms that were part of the town gate.”

Smote: this word is not a part of current English vocabulary. New Revised Standard Version has revised it to give the meaning in the common language of today, “stabbed.” That Joab stabbed Abner in the belly recalls the way in which Abner had earlier killed Joab’s brother (see 2.23).

For the blood of Asahel: in such a context as this the blood of a person is a way of talking about his or her death. It will be better in most cases to say more precisely “because of the death of Asahel.”

His brother: the translation should leave no doubt as to whose brother Asahel was. Since the wording of Revised Standard Version is ambiguous, Good News Translation has specified “Joab’s brother.” Some old Greek manuscripts, in fact, have the name, Joab, instead of the pronoun here.

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 .