David’s wife: the presence of these words in this context has aroused the curiosity of Bible scholars. The words have been omitted by Good News Translation as redundant. But it is probably better to follow the model of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Contemporary English Version, “another one of David’s wives.” This retains the curious element, but includes the information that the other women mentioned were also wives of David.

Born to David in Hebron: this is a repetition of information already given in verse 2. If the repetition is unnatural in the receptor language, this does not need to be restated here, but in most cases it will do no harm.

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 .