army

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin that is translated as “army” in English is translated in Chichewa as “group of warriors.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

complete verse (2 Samuel 10:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 10:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then king Hadadezer sent mouth that other Arameans who were living on the other side of the river Euphrates should come. All those Arameans gathered themselves where it is called Helam and they were led by Shobach who was the leader/commander of king Hadadezer’s soldiers.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by the Israelites, they gather troops again. Then King Hadadezer called additional Aramean’s soldiers who were east of the Euphrates. Then Shoback, [with] Hadadezer’s commanding general being the leader, [they] proceeded to Helam.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They were-helped by other Arameanhon who were-caused-to-be-called by Hadadezer from the-other-side of the River of Eufrates. They went to Helam under-the-leadership of Shobach the commander of the soldiers of Hadadezer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Their king, Hadadezer, summoned the soldiers of Syria who lived on the east side of the Euphrates River. They gathered at Helam city. Their commander was Shobach.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 10:16

Hadadezer: while this name was mentioned frequently in chapter 8, this is the first specific mention since that point, and it may be a good idea to remind the reader that Hadadezer was a king, as Good News Translation has done by adding the title.

Sent, and brought out: the verb “send” will require an object in many languages. New Century Version and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible both have “sent messengers….” It will also be possible to say “sent men [or, troops] to bring the Syrians….” Another reasonable solution is to use a verb that means “fetched” or “sent for” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Beyond the Euphrates: as indicated in the Revised Standard Version footnote and in translations like King James Version, New King James Version , New American Standard Bible, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, the Hebrew text does not actually have the name Euphrates. It says only “beyond the river” (compare 8.3). But the reference is almost certainly to the Euphrates, and most modern versions include the name. This should probably also be done in other languages, since it is unlikely that modern readers or hearers will automatically think of the Euphrates when they hear “the river,” as the original readers almost certainly did.

The word beyond refers to the east side of the Euphrates from the point of view of a person located in Israel. This can be made clear in translation if “the other side” may be misunderstood or meaningless in the receptor language. See Josh 24.2. Compare also comments on “beyond the Jordan” at 1 Sam 31.7.

Helam: this place name is mentioned only here and in the following verse, although it is possibly the same as “Alema,” mentioned in 2 Maccabees 5.26, 35. While it is not absolutely certain whether the word refers to a city or a region, most scholars think it was very likely a city.

At their head: this may be better expressed in some languages by saying something like “as their commander” or “as their leader.” Another way of wording this is to use a verbal expression like “… was leading them” or “… was in charge of the army.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .