with a loud voice

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “with a loud voice” in English is translated in Low German idiomatically as luuthals or “loud-throated” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).

It is also used in Acts 19:28 for krazó (κράζω).

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 28:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 28:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “When that woman saw Samuel, she alarmed/cried loudly and said to Saul that, ‘Why did you deceive me? Are you not king Saul?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Seeing Samuel go out, that woman, screaming and crying out, said to Saul, "Why have you been deceiving me? You are King Saul."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So the woman called Samuel, and when the woman saw Samuel she shouted very loudly, and said to Saul, ‘Why have- you (sing.) -deceived me? You (sing.) (are) indeed/[surprise particle] Saul!’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So the woman did that. But when she saw Samuel, she screamed. She said, ‘You have tricked me ! You are Saul! You will execute me for doing this!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 28:12

The text leaves implicit the fact that the woman apparently did indeed cause Samuel to come into her presence so that she could actually identify him.

No reason is given in the text to explain how the woman recognized Saul after seeing Samuel. Any answer is simply speculation and should not be part of the translation of this verse.

The verbs cried out and said [to Saul] seem to refer to two different utterances. What the woman cried out is not specified, but it was very probably a shout of apprehension with no specific words. Her fear seems to be based not on the recognition of Samuel but on the fact that at the same time she realized that her visitor was really King Saul. Contemporary English Version makes two sentences: “… she screamed. Then she turned to Saul and said….”

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 .