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 .

name (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-na (御名) or “name (of God)” in the referenced verses.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Psalm 145:1 - 145:3

The parallelism throughout Psalm 145 tends to be static, that is, without significant heightening from line a to line b. However, in spite of this there is, as Alter says, “a progression from the general praise of God to an affirmation of his compassion, his kingship, his daily providing for those who truly call unto him” (Alter, The Art of Biblical Poetry,* page 23).

In the first two verses the psalmist declares his readiness to praise God, to proclaim his greatness, and to thank him forever and ever. For extol see 30.1; “exalt” in 34.3b; for bless see 16.7. In verses 1b, 2b “you” translates thy name (see 5.11). Due to the double address form, my God and King, it may be necessary in some languages to adjust verse 1 to say, for example, “You are the God I worship and the king I serve; I will tell everyone how great you are.”

For verse 3a see similar statement in 48.1; 96.4; and in verse 3b the Hebrew “there is no searching his greatness” means that God’s greatness cannot be fully understood by a human being. Greatly to be praised must often be shifted to the active voice by translating “everyone should praise the LORD very much” or “everyone should say that the LORD is very great.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .