The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Samson” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “headband” referring to his long hair and likely use of a headband. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 15:7:
Kupsabiny: “Samson said to those Philistines, ‘Why did you do a thing like that? I swear that I shall not leave here until I have avenged (it).’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Samson said to them — "Because you did this I will not stop until taking revenge on you."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Samson said to the Filistinhon, ‘Because of this which you (plur.) have-done, I will- not -stop until I can-take-revenge-on/[lit. pay-back] you (plur.).’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Samson found out about that, and he said to them, ‘Because you have done this, I will not stop until I get revenge on you!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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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. )
It is somewhat tragic that in trying to avenge the act of his father-in-law, Samson brought about the death of his own wife. He responds to their deaths with an oath. Though the narrator does not give any details, it would appear at this point that Samson is once again in Timnah.
And Samson said to them. The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “Then” or “So.” The pronoun them refers to the Philistines who killed Samson’s wife and her father. Given the content of this speech, the general verb said may be rendered “vowed” (New Living Translation).
If this is what you do is a conditional clause, but it refers to a real rather than a hypothetical action, so it may be rendered “Since this is what you do.” The demonstrative pronoun this refers to the killing of Samson’s wife and her father. Contemporary English Version tries to make this explicit with “You killed them!” Samson’s anger is once again directed against the Philistines, this time for the murder of his wife and her father. Do renders the general Hebrew verb that can also mean “make.” Here it can indicate a frequent or habitual action. We might say “Since this is how you act” or “Since you behave like this.”
I swear I will be avenged upon you, and after that I will quit: Revised Standard Version does not reflect the structure of these clauses in Hebrew, and adds the phrase I swear. The Hebrew is literally “indeed, if I avenge myself on you, and afterward I will cease.” ver RSVver* is correct in thinking Samson is making a vow or resolution. I swear may be an attempt at rendering the Hebrew particle ki (“indeed”), which emphasizes Samson’s vow. The Hebrew verb rendered be avenged means “take vengeance” or “pay [someone] back” for the evil that person has done. The same Hebrew root occurs in verse 11.36 (see comments there). It also reappears in Samson’s speech before his final act of vengeance (verse 16.28). Contemporary English Version says “get even,” which may not be strong enough for the degree of vengeance here. Upon you may not need to be expressed in some languages.
And after that I will quit follows the Hebrew closely. Quit may be rendered “stop” (Good News Translation, New International Version), “rest” (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation), or “cease.” In some languages this verb may need an object. If so, we might say “then I will stop taking vengeance.” In other languages in may be helpful to place this clause before the previous one, for example, “I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you” (New International Version) or “I won’t rest till I get even with you” (Contemporary English Version).
Translation models for this verse are:
• So Samson said to the Philistines, “Since this is the way you behave, then [I warn you] I won’t stop until I have my revenge on you.”
• Then Samson said to the Philistines, “Because you have done this thing, [I swear to you that] I will have my revenge. Only then will I rest.”
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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