concubine

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 wives.” 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. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Kalanga it is likewise translated with balongwana or “small wives.” (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Concubine .

Saul

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Saul” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign that depicts “sword in chest” (referring to 1 Samuel 31:4 and 1 Chronicles 10:4) and also “self-centered.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Saul” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Saul .

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 3:7

Now: the Hebrew has only the common conjunction that is most often translated “And.” But the context may require a different transition word in some languages. Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch say “One day” and make a paragraph break at the beginning of this verse.

Saul had: at this point in the story Saul has been dead for some time. Knowledge of this fact may affect the verb form used in this case. Anchor Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New International Version use the English pluperfect tense, “Saul had had a concubine” (so also Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur). Knox, on the other hand, conveys the idea of Saul’s departure, with the words “Saul had left a concubine.”

Concubine: the exact status of a concubine in Israelite culture is not absolutely certain, but most probably such a woman was a legitimate wife of lower status. These included slaves and women captured during wars. Her standing was therefore less than that of the principal wife or wives, but she should not be thought of as a prostitute, and her status was not temporary. The term is also found in Gen 22.24 and frequently in the book of Judges, as well as in this book. Some languages have had to translate this term as “spouse of second rank” (Bible en français courant) or “second-level wife.” Translators are advised not to follow New Century Version‘s rendering of this term, “slave woman.”

Ish-bosheth: or “Ishbaal” (New Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible). See the comments at 2.8. The Masoretic Text of this verse says literally “and he said.” Most translations add the name Ish-bosheth, either following the Septuagint, which has the name Memphibosthe, or simply making the name explicit as the context requires. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, following the Septuagint, and a manuscript from Qumran recommend the following corrected text: “And Ishbosheth son of Saul said.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} evaluation to this corrected text, but for reasons of style it may be unnecessary in receptor languages to repeat the information that Ishbosheth is “the son of Saul.”

Gone in to: this is a euphemistic expression for having sexual relations with a woman. Compare Gen 16.2; Psa 51.1; and Ezek 23.44. Many English versions use the English euphemism “sleep with” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible) or “lie with” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). New American Bible has “Why have you been intimate with…?” while New Century Version is more direct, “Why did you have sexual relations with…?” It is possible to understand the Hebrew verb as referring to a regular practice rather than to a one-time affair (so Anchor Bible, “why have you been sleeping with…?”).

The direct quotation of Revised Standard Version may be made indirect as in Good News Translation, if this will be more natural in the receptor language.

The Masoretic Text never states directly that Abner had been sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines. All that is stated is Ishbosheth’s accusation that Abner had done so. Some Greek manuscripts, however, have the words “And Abner took [or, went in to] her,” and this is the basis for the translation in several versions (New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet). New Jerusalem Bible, for example, says “Now, there was a concubine of Saul’s called Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Abner took her.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, as reflected in Revised Standard Version.

Rizpah appears again in 21.8-11. Though the Hebrew does not state explicitly that Aiah was the father of Rizpah, the name Aiah is a man’s name in Gen 36. Almost all Bible dictionaries agree that Aiah was the father (not the mother) of Rizpah.

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 .