complete verse (2 Samuel 12:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 12:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “When David heard those servants whispering at the side, he knew the child must really be dead. Then he asked them that, ‘Is the child dead?’ Those people replied, ‘The child is dead, oh master.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But David saw his servants discussing [something] and He realized the child was dead so he asked, "Has the child died, or what?"
    Then they replied, "Yes, he has died."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David noticed that his servants were-whispering-among-themselves, so he realized that the child is dead already. He asked, ‘Is the child dead?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But when David saw that his servants were whispering something to each other, he realized that the baby must be dead. So he asked them, ‘Is the baby dead?’ They replied, ‘Yes, he is dead.’” (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 .

Honorary "rare" construct denoting God (“pass away”)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, nakuna-rare-ru (亡くなられる) or “pass away” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 12:19

But: the Hebrew conjunction is rendered by nothing more than a new paragraph break in Good News Translation. However, since what happens is somewhat unexpected, a conjunction like But may be appropriate—especially if no new paragraph is made at this point.

The words his servants, referring to David’s officials, may be replaced by pronouns in this context. Compare Good News Translation.

Whispering together: the idea of whispering may have to be translated in some languages as “speaking in a low voice” or “talking so that others could not hear.”

Perceived: the verb used here means “made a mental judgment” or “realized” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). It will have to be translated in some languages as “knew” (Contemporary English Version), “understood,” or “decided.”

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 .