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 .

complete verse (1 Samuel 15:34)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 15:34:

  • Kupsabiny: “Samuel got up and went to Ramah, while Saul went to his home in Gibeah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then, soon after that Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went to his home in Gibeah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Samuel returned/went-back to Rama, and Saul on-the-other-hand went-home to Gibea.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Samuel left there and returned to his home in Ramah, and Saul went to his home in Gibeah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 15:34

Ramah was Samuel’s birthplace (see 1.19-20).

Gibe-ah of Saul: this may sound unnecessarily redundant in some languages, since the idea that Gibeah was the home of Saul is already expressed. See the comments on 10.5.

It is possible to restructure this verse and translate the meaning: “Then both Samuel and Saul went home. Samuel went to Ramah and Saul to Gibeah.”

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 .