steadfast love

The Hebrew that is translated as “steadfast love,” “lovingkindness” (Goldingay 2018: “commitment”) or similar in English is translated in a number of ways:

  • Vidunda: “love of enduring” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Bura-Pabir: “love which cannot be-changed” (hyirkur na a palidzi wa)
  • Hausa Common Language Bible “his love without changing” (kaunarsa marar canjawa) (source for this and above: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
  • Elhomwe: “love that does not finish” (echikondi yoohisintheya) (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Nyamwezi: chelu, combining “love,” “faithfulness,” “loyalty,” and “kindness” (source: James Lundeen)
  • Newari: dayāmāyā (दयामाया), a compound word made from two Sanskrit-derived terms: dayā (दया) or “compassion, mercy, kindness” and māyā (माया) or “love, affection” (source: Newari Back Translation)

In Pijin tinghevi long or “think heavy about” is used. “The Pijin expression ‘think heavy about’ is very much within the domain of committed relationships. The relationship between father and child, husband and wife, God and His people. There is a very strong element of ‘loyalty’ in this expression.” (Source: Bob Carter)

See also mercy and pain-love.

mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan, Friulian) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love.

self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (2 Samuel 10:2)

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

  • Kupsabiny: “Then David said, ‘I will be good to Hanun because his father listened to me.’ He sent his people to tell him sorry for the death of his father.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “King David said, "I must honor Hanun for his father always honored me." So, expressing condolence, giving the message to messengers, he sent them.
    But when David’s messengers arrived in Ammon,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David said, ‘I will-show goodness to Hanun because his father was good to me.’ So David sent some officers to show/express his sympathy to the sadness/[lit. difficulty] of Hanun because of the death of his father.
    But when the officials of David arrived in the land of the Ammonhon,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David thought, ‘Nahash was kind to me, so I will be kind to his son.’ So David sent some officials there, to tell Hanun that David was sorry that Hanun’s father had died.
    When those messengers arrived in the land where the Ammon people-group lived,” (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 2 Samuel 10:2

And: the conjunction here simply indicates the continuation of the story and may be left untranslated in many languages.

Said: as in 9.1, there is no indication in the text as to whether this was something David said to himself or to another person. Here Anchor Bible takes it as a thought. But in those languages that require an object for such verbs, it may be best to add “to those around him” or “to some people.” Some versions, such as Bible en français courant, say “David said to himself.” But even if this began as a thought, David must have eventually spoken it to others.

Deal loyally with … dealt loyally with: these expressions involve the same key Hebrew term as already seen in 2.5-6; 3.8; 7.15; 9.1, 3, 7; as well as in 1 Sam 15.6; 20.8, 14, 15. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh again uses the expression “keep faith with.”

So: it was as a result of David’s thought about the kindness shown to him by Nahash that he took the action that follows. The transition word should show this logical relationship. Some languages may even use something like “therefore” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Bible en français courant).

Servants: this term has been variously rendered as “envoys” (New Revised Standard Version), “a delegation” (New International Version), “representatives” (New Jerusalem Bible), “courtiers” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “a mission” (Revised English Bible), and “officers” (New Century Version). A literal translation would be misleading in most cases. These representatives, sent to communicate the condolences of one king to another, were not lowly household servants.

Note how the structure of the last part of this verse has been altered by Good News Translation. It begins a new paragraph with a temporal clause introducing the events described in verse 3. Revised English Bible and New Revised Standard Version adopt a very similar structure. This may prove to be a helpful model for some other languages.

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 .