Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English means “(from) the land of wanderers,” “(from the) land of strangers” (same as “Palestinian”). (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It 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)

son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of

complete verse (Judges 3:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 3:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “Shamgar son of Anath became adviser. It was Shamgar who killed six hundred Philistines who fought against the people of Israel with a sharp hunting stick.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After Ehud came Shamgar, son of Anath. He killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad. He also delivered the Israelites.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The one-who followed Ehud as leader/[lit. heads] was Shamgar the child/(son) of Anat. He saved Israel from the Filistinhon. He killed about 600 Filistinhon with a staff/stick/cane which was-used to drive cows.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After Ehud died, Shamgar became their leader. He rescued the Israelis from the Philistines. In one battle he killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad/sharp wooden pole.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Judges 3:31

Section 3:31 Shamgar was the judge of Israel

3:31a After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath.

The ⌊next judge⌋ after Ehud was Shamgar the son of Anath.
-or-
After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath ⌊was the judge of Israel⌋ .

3:31b And he too saved Israel

He too rescued Israel ⌊from their enemies⌋ .
-or-
⌊Just like the judges before him,⌋ he also delivered the people of Israel.

3:31c striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.

He killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad.
-or-
He took a piece of wood used to prod cattle and killed six hundred (600) Philistia people with it.

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