Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

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 .

survive / escape / save

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “survive,” “escape,” “save,” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) in these verses with pulumuka, describing someone whose life was in danger but who has freed himself or herself. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

complete verse (1 Samuel 27:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 27:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “David stayed, and one day, he thought alone/just in his head that, ‘Saul might kill me one day, so, it is better for me to flee to the country of the Philistines. After I have done like that, he will become tired of looking for me in Israel, and I will escape from his hands/jurisdiction.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “David thought like this, "One day Saul will kill me yet. So it would be good for me to escape to the region of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up seaching for me in all places in Israel, [and] in this way I will be delivered from his hand."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David said to himself/[lit. his own self], ‘The time will-come that Saul will- surely -kill me. (It is) better that I escape to the land of the Filistinhon so-that Saul will- now -stop looking/searching for me in Israel, and I (will-be) safe from him.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But David thought, ‘Some day Saul will capture me if I stay around here. So the best thing that I can do is to escape and go to the Philistia area. If I do that, Saul will stop searching for me here in Israel, and I will be safe.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 27:1

The concluding verses of the previous chapter leave the impression that all is well between Saul and David, but the content of this chapter shows that this is not the case. So the transition word used at the beginning of this verse is rather important. The common Hebrew conjunction is represented by and in Revised Standard Version, while most other modern versions leave it untranslated. But New American Bible, New Century Version, and Contemporary English Version, which translate “But,” may be better models, since they show the contrast between the reader’s expeCritique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testamention that the two adversaries will be reconciled and the fact that the antagonism actually continues. In fact, David plans to flee to the territory of the Philistines so that Saul will finally give up looking for him in Israel. According to verse 4, Saul does in fact stop looking for him.

Said in his heart: see the same expression in Gen 8.21; 24.45; also the comments on “speaking in her heart” in 1 Sam 1.13. This expression may also be translated “David thought to himself” (New International Version, Revised English Bible), or simply “David thought” (New Jerusalem Bible). It seems to convey the idea of a nagging doubt in the mind of David in spite of the happy ending to the story in the previous chapter. In some languages it may be possible to translate “kept wondering.”

Hand is used two times in this verse to mean “by the power of” or “under the control of.” See the comments on 4.8.

There is nothing better for me may be expressed without the negative as “the best thing for me to do” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible). Another possible model is “I have no choice but to…” (New American Bible).

Escape: see the comments on 19.10.

The land of the Philistines: other ways of expressing this are “Philistine territory” (Revised English Bible) or “the country of the Philistines” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel: Revised Standard Version translates the form of the Hebrew here literally. New Jerusalem Bible provides a dynamic model that maintains the image of Saul searching for David throughout the country of Israel: “then Saul will give up tracking me through the length and breadth of Israel.”

In languages where internal thoughts such as David’s are more naturally translated as indirect discourse, the following model may be considered:

• David thought to himself that Saul was eventually going to kill him. So he decided that the best thing for him to do was to run away to Philistine country. He thought that Saul would finally give up looking for him all over Israel, and so he would be safe.

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 .