complete verse (2 Samuel 1:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 1:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ ‘I am an Amalekite’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’
    I said, ‘I am an Amalekite.’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He asked me who I am. I answered that I am an Amaleknon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He replied, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I am a descendant of Amalek.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with low register (Japanese)

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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 second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 1:8

This verse contains two quotations within the account of the Amalekite messenger. Such quotations within other quotations are often more natural if they are made indirect as in Good News Translation.

If the direct quotations are maintained, in many languages the verb said introducing the first will be more naturally translated “asked,” since what follows is a question.

Amalekite: see the comments on “Amalekites” in verse 1. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “I am an Amalekite soldier.”

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 .