complete verse (2 Samuel 1:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 1:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Saul turned and saw me. He called me, and then I said to him that, ‘What are you thinking/wanting, master/sir?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Looking back he saw me and called to me. I answered, ‘Tell [me], what is it?"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When he turned-around, he saw me and he called me. I answered, ‘What can I help?’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Saul turned around and saw me, and he called out to me. I answered him and said, ‘What do you want me to do?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 1:7

He looked behind him: other versions have rendered this as “he turned” (Revised English Bible), “he turned around” (New American Bible and New International Version), and “he looked around” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Here I am: this expression is used frequently in the Old Testament to indicate willingness and availability, as in the story of Abraham (Gen 22.1, 7, 11) and the call of Samuel (1 Sam 3.4, 5, 6, 8, 16). See also Isa 6.8. The word used here is actually the same word that is sometimes translated in other contexts as “lo” or “behold,” but here it is followed by the first person singular pronoun, “I” or “me.” The expression is not intended to provide a physical location. For this reason it has been translated “What is it, sir?” (Revised English Bible), “Here, sir” (New Revised Standard Version), “At your service” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and “What can I do?” (New International Version). Instead of the use of such a direct quotation within another direct quotation, Knox translates the meaning by way of an indirect statement: “and [he] learned I was ready at his command.” Other languages may prefer to say something like “and I told him that I was willing to do whatever he requested.”

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 .