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)

complete verse (1 Samuel 6:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 6:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, those cows went towards Beth-shemesh while mooing. The Philistine leaders followed those cows up to the border near Beth-shemesh.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Right after that the cows did not look here and there they went straight to Beth-shemesh, bellowing all the way. The rulers of the Philistines also followed them to the border of Beth-shemesh.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then the cows went straight to Bet Shemesh without turn-off the road, and they kept-on their mooing/lowing. The leaders/[lit. heads] of the Filistinhon kept-following them as-far-as the border of Bet Shemesh.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then the cows started walking, and they went straight toward Beth-Shemesh. They stayed on the road, and were mooing all the time. They did not turn to the left or to the right. The five kings of the Philistia area followed the cows until they reached the edge of Beth-Shemesh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 6:12

That the cows went straight … turned neither to the right nor to the left is a sign that God was leading them (see verse 9). Compare Num 20.17; Deut 2.27; 5.32; 17.11; Josh 1.7, where the same sort of expression is used.

Along one highway: the word highway has the potential for being misunderstood in some languages. The Hebrew term refers to a road made with layers of stone or gravel and not just dirt. But this is not to be thought of as a modern, paved superhighway. Rather the expression simply means that “they kept to the road” (Revised English Bible).

Lowing as they went: the cry is one of female cattle whose nursing calves had been taken from them. Knox, in fact, translates “lowing for their calves.” Languages have a variety of ways of expressing such sounds. Some English versions use the word “mooing” (New Century Version, New American Bible, and Good News Translation). But many languages will utilize a more general word for “crying.” The Hebrew term found here is used elsewhere only in Job 6.5.

The lords of the Philistines: see the comments on 5.8.

The idea of a border may have to be translated in some languages as in Contemporary English Version, “until they got close to Beth-Shemesh.” The idea is that of a boundary line marking the limits of a town or region. This does not mean up to the very buildings of the city of Beth-Shemesh, but rather to the area around the city where its inhabitants had their fields.

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 .