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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 16:17:
Kupsabiny: “Then Saul told his servants that, ‘Go and look for a person who knows how to play a lyre well and bring him.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Search for a person who knows how to play well and bring him to me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “So Saul said to his servants, ‘Okay, [you (plur.)] look-for/search-for a person/man who plays the harp well and bring him here to me.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Saul replied, ‘Fine/Okay, find for me a man who can play the harp well, and bring him to me.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Good News Translation has replaced the words his servants with the pronoun “them.” This refers back to the servants first mentioned in verse 15. Translators should use a form that is natural in the receptor language.
If indirect speech is more appropriate, this verse may be worded “Saul instructed those servants to find a person who could play the lyre well and to bring that one into his presence.”
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 .
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