The Hebrew that is translated as “seer” in English is translated in Newari as “one who will say what will happen in the future” (source: Newari Back Translation).
In Mandarin Chinese it is translated as “one who sees first” (xiānjiàn / 先见) compared to “prophet” as “one who knows first” (xiānzhī / 先知). (Source: Zetzsche)
In Wolof in these verses as boroom peeñu or “possessor of visions.” In contrast, “prophet” is translated with the established term Yonent (app. “Send one”). (Source: Marilyn Escher)
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)
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Samuel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “listen” referring to 1 Samuel 3:10. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Spanish uses a formal vs. informal second-person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Spanish Bibles all use only the informal second-person pronoun (tú), with the exception of Dios Habla Hoy (third edition: 1996) which also uses the formal pronoun (usted). In the referenced verses, the formal form is used.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 9:18:
Kupsabiny: “Then Saul approached Samuel at the gate of that city and asked him that, ‘Where does the person whom God reveals words to live?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “As soon as Saul arrived at the gate, [he] asked Samuel, "Where does the man live who is able to tell what will happen later? Please tell me."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Saul came-near to Samuel at the gate of the town/city and asked, ‘Where (is) the house of seer/fortune-teller’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Saul saw Samuel as he was sitting at the town gateway but he did not know that it was Samuel. He went over to him and asked him, ‘Can you tell me, where is the house of the man who sees visions from God/all that God sees?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, oshiete (教えて) or “inform” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”
The gate: see the comment on 4.18. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “at the gate of the city.” But the translation of the word for a city gate may be very difficult in languages where city walls are unknown. Some have to say “the place [or, hole] in the wall where people go in and out of the city.”
Tell me: after the verb tell, the Hebrew contains a word of entreaty that is difficult to translate. Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation translates it. This word expresses a sense of urgency. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh captures the sense by saying “Tell me, please.” In some cases the particle of entreaty may come more naturally at the beginning of the statement. See the comments on 2.36.
The seer: see the comments on verse 9.
If indirect discourse is preferred, this verse may be translated:
• Then Saul went to Samuel by the city gate and asked him where he might find the house of the seer.
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 .
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