complete verse (1 Samuel 19:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 19:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “I will come with the old man to the grazing ground and stand somewhere. Then, we shall discuss together about you, and then I will inform you what he will say.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Having come out to the field where you are hiding, I will stand beside my father, and I will speak with my father concerning you and if I find anything out I will come to your place and tell you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I will-bring my father there and talk/converse with him about/concerning you (sing.). Then I will-tell you (sing.) what I find-out/discover.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “I will ask my father to go out there with me. While we are out there, I will talk to him about you. Then I will tell you everything that he tells me.’ So David did what Jonathan told him to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 19:3

The first person singular pronoun I is emphatic at the beginning of this verse and again in the expression I will speak …. When translating into languages that have emphatic personal pronouns, it may be appropriate to use them in this context.

Beside my father: literally “at the hand of my father.” Together with the preceding verb, this has been rendered “join my father” (Revised English Bible) and “keep my father company” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Field: the Hebrew noun may refer to a plot of land where crops are grown, that is, “the field” (New Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or it may refer more generally to “the open country” (Revised English Bible). New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate “the countryside.” The important thing about this field is that it was to be the one in the general area where David was hiding.

If I learn anything: this does not refer to general knowledge that will be passed on to David. Rather Jonathan implies that he will be listening to what his father says, to try to learn of any new developments in the plot to kill David. Some languages may require translators to say something like “if I find out anything about the plot.”

I will tell you: more literally “I will cause to be conspicuous [or, apparent] to you.” In certain languages this will be more naturally expressed as “I will inform you.”

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 .