complete verse (1 Samuel 30:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 30:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “When God had said like that, David pursued those Amalekites. He went with about six hundred of his soldiers. When they reached river Besor, two hundred of David’s soldiers remained there because they were tired. David with the other four hundred remaining men pursued the enemies.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “For Two hundred of feeling tired not able to cross over. David and his 400 men, however, without taking rest, went after them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “his 200 men because they (were) too tired to-cross the stream. But David and his 400 men continued to-pursue.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David and 400 men continued to pursue the men who captured their families. The other 200 men stayed there at the ravine, because they were so exhausted that they could not cross the ravine.” (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 30:10

The two hundred who stayed behind should not be understood to mean that four hundred men started out and then two hundred of these men became exhausted and ceased to travel with David. The two hundred are those men who, with the four hundred others, made up the group of six hundred (verse 9). Good News Translation and New Century Version make this clear by adding the word “other,” that is, “the other two hundred men.”

The brook Besor: see the comments on verse 9.

Contemporary English Version restructures verses 9 and 10 together as follows:

• David led his six hundred men to Besor Gorge, but two hundred of them were too tired to go across. So they stayed behind, while David and the other four hundred men crossed the gorge.

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 .