complete verse (1 Samuel 22:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 22:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “That person from Edom called Doeg was there standing with the leaders of Saul. Then he said that, ‘It happened one day as I was at the House of God, I saw David the son of Jesse coming to see Ahimelech the son of Ahitub in Nob.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Edomite Doeg who was standing among Saul’s courtiers said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Ahimelech, son of Ahitub’s place in Nob.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “One who was-standing there with the officials of Saul was Doeg who (was) an Edomnon. He said to Saul, ‘When I (was) there at Nob, I saw David come to Ahimelec the child/(son) of Ahitub.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Doeg, a man from the Edom people-group, was standing there with Saul’s officers. He said to Saul, ‘When I was at Nob, I saw that son of Jesse talking to Ahimelech, the priest.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 22:9

Doeg the Edomite: see 21.7. Doeg’s comments refer to the events recorded in 21.1-10. Since Doeg was identified in 21.7 as an Edomite, that is, a non-Israelite, Good News Translation does not repeat that information here. But it is important that readers understand that Doeg was not an Israelite (see verse 18), so it is preferable to include the words the Edomite again in this verse.

Servants: see verse 6.

Doeg does not state when he saw David coming to Nob, and in some languages it may be more natural to introduce the reference with an indefinite time. Compare Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente: “ ‘One day,’ said Doeg the Edomite, who intervened, ‘I saw….’ ” Another possible approach is to have Doeg say “When I was in the town of Nob, I saw…” (Contemporary English Version).

The son of Jesse: see verse 7. Instead of using David’s name, Doeg uses the same pejorative expression as Saul had used.

Ahimelech the son of Ahitub: Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Contemporary English Version render this “the priest Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.” The fact that Ahimelech was a priest is given in verse 11, but for the sake of clarity this information may be shifted to this verse.

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 .