bed

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “bed” or similar in English is translated in Noongar as maya-ngwoorndiny or “bark sleeping” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also mat, bed.

complete verse (1 Samuel 28:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 28:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “When Saul was told like that, he refused. He said that he didn’t want to eat anything. But Saul’s people accepted/agreed with what that woman had said and told him to eat. Then Saul accepted to be provided with food, and he got up and sat on the bed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But Saul did not agree to eat food. Then his men also, supporting [lit.: taking] the advice of that woman also asked Saul to eat food. Then he agreed and got up from the ground and sat on the bed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But Saul refused. He said, ‘I will- not -eat.’ His men helped the woman to-urge him to-eat, so he agreed. He got-up and sat on something-to-lay-on/bed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But Saul refused. He said, ‘No, I will not eat anything.’ Then Saul’s servants also urged him to eat something, and finally he heeded what they said. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 28:23

Servants: see verse 7.

Urged him: that is “encouraged him to eat” or “kept on asking him to take some food.”

He hearkened to their words: the same verb is used here as in the two previous verses, but since Saul had at first refused to eat and changed his mind only at the insistence of his companions and the woman, some languages may require a different verb or the addition of an adverb like “finally” (Good News Translation). Revised English Bible says “he yielded,” and Bible en français courant translates “he ended up by accepting.” New Jerusalem Bible provides another possible model, “allowing himself to be persuaded….”

The Hebrew word rendered bed means “a place of reclining” and includes various kinds of mats, as well as solid structures with a frame. Some languages will speak quite naturally of a “sleeping place” in such a context.

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 .