complete verse (1 Samuel 4:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 4:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Eli had ninety eight years and he was blind. When he heard the shouting, he asked that, ‘Hey, why are people shouting?’ Then that person who was bringing the news hurried to where Eli was.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Eli was already ninety-eight years old and his eyes had become weak.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When- he -arrived at Shilo, Eli was-sitting on a chair beside the road and watching-(out) because he was- very -troubled/worried for the Box of God. Eli (was) the-age-of 98 back-then/at-that-time, and almost could- no-longer -see.
    Now, the man told the town/city what had-happened in the battle. When- the people -heard this they wept. Eli heard this and he asked, ‘Why are- the people -weeping?’ The man quickly came-near to him” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “At that time, Eli was 98 years old, and he was blind.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 4:15

This parenthetical statement about the condition of Eli may in some languages fit better earlier in the story. Contemporary English Version moves it to a position before the content of verse 14 and then numbers verses 14 and 15 together.

His eyes were set, so that he could not see: it is said also of Ahijah in 1 Kgs 14.4 that “his eyes were set” because of his age. That is, his eyes were fixed with a blank stare. The Hebrew clearly says that Eli could not see. The reason for the Good News Translation rendering that he was “almost … blind” may be to harmonize this verse with the statement in verse 13 that he was “watching.” But this is unnecessary if the verb in that case is translated “waiting,” as is done in certain English versions.

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 .