complete verse (2 Samuel 15:36)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 15:36:

  • Kupsabiny: “They are with their sons, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. You (plur.) can send those boys to bring me any word you (plur.) get.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “With them are also Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar. Whatever you hear, send them to tell it to me."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then have- their children Ahimaaz and Jonatan -come here to me to tell what you have-heard.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Keep in mind that Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are also there. You can tell them whatever you find out, and send them to report it to me.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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 choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 15:36

Behold: once again this reflects the Hebrew focusing particle, which directs particular attention to what is about to be said. Many English versions, including New International Version and New Revised Standard Version, leave it untranslated at this point.

It may be unwieldy to include both their two sons and Zadok’s son … Abiathar’s son in this verse, since this constitutes an unnecessary repetition of the same idea. Good News Translation eliminates the second of these elements, while New Century Version drops the first. Either of these may serve as a helpful model for some languages.

You shall send to me: the verb form used here has the force of an imperative. New Jerusalem Bible has “you will send me word.” This is clearly something that David wanted Hushai to do.

The structure of the last part of this verse will need to be changed in many languages. One possible model is “you tell them all the information that you learn and they will bring it to me.”

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 .