The Hebrew text repeats the verb said three times in this verse, but the conversational nature of the text may make it necessary to use different words. For example, the translation may sound more natural if translators use more specific words like “asked,” “replied,” and “responded.” In many cases it will also be necessary to specify “Jesse” as the subject of this verb in the second occurrence, where the Hebrew has only the pronoun.

Send and fetch him: the verb Send will require an object in some languages. So translators may say “send some men” or “send messengers.” The verb fetch is rather old-fashioned American English, meaning to go somewhere to get something and bring it back to the original location. For this reason New Revised Standard Version replaces it with “bring.” In this case the unnamed agents were to go and find Jesse’s youngest son and bring him back to Samuel.

We will not sit down till he comes here: the verb rendered sit down is often translated “turn” or “go around.” The meaning here is most likely “go [or, sit] around the table.” A literal translation of the Hebrew may incorrectly suggest that they will not sit down to rest. It will be necessary in many languages to make explicit the reason for sitting down. Compare New American Bible (“we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here”) and New Jerusalem Bible (“for we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives”). See also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which is very similar to New Jerusalem Bible: “for we will not sit down to eat until he gets here.”

It is also possible that the intended sense is “we will not go around [parade around] the altar before he comes.” This is the meaning accepted by Good News Translation, which understands this to refer to beginning the rituals of the sacrifice. Klein avoids choosing between the two possible meanings, leaving the translation ambiguous: “for we will not go ahead [meaning, we will not begin] until he comes here.” It will be better, however, to choose one interpretation and make that meaning clear in the text, and then perhaps include the other in a note.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .