Since two questions follow, Good News Translation changes the verb said to “asked” in order to conform to common English usage. But in some languages the questions may be turned into statements. For example, the question What have I done now? is really a way of saying “I haven’t done anything wrong.” And in some cases it will be better translated this way.

Was it not but a word? In some languages it may be best to express this as a statement rather than as a question. See Revised English Bible, “I only asked a question.” If the question format is retained, the meaning to be conveyed is “Don’t I even have the right to speak any more?” (La Bible du Semeur).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

It will be necessary in some languages to clarify who turned away from whom. The original text has only the pronouns he and him, but the meaning is “David turned away from Eliab.”

And spoke in the same way: the meaning is not that David’s manner of speech remained the same, but rather that he asked the same question as in verse 26.

The people answered him again as before: the people are again the Israelite soldiers (verse 27). Each time David asked another soldier, he received the same response.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Were heard: there is no definite indication as to who heard David’s words. So in languages where the passive form is not a realistic option, translators may wish to say “Some people heard” or “They [indefinite] heard.” Whoever the implied agent is in this case, it must be the same people referred to as they in the following clause.

He sent for him: that is, Saul sent for David. In some languages the idea of “sending for” a person will have to be translated “sent someone to bring him back.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Let no man’s heart fail: literally “Let not the heart of anyone fall upon him.” The meaning of this idiom may have to be made clear in the receptor language. Compare New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, which says “Let no man’s courage fail him.” Contemporary English Version, translating more dynamically, says “this Philistine shouldn’t turn us into cowards.”

Your servant will go: David refers to himself as Saul’s servant, utilizing the customary Hebrew indirect reference. Good News Translation says “I will go” but maintains the attitude of subordination by introducing the words “Your Majesty.” In many languages a literal translation of your servant will make readers think that someone other than David would go to fight Goliath. Since this is not the case, the pronoun “I” is much more appropriate.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Good News Translation has restructured this verse in several ways that may prove helpful in other languages. The verb said is replaced with the more natural “answered” in English. Good News Translation also leaves implicit that Saul was talking to David. Good News Translation further changes the statement at the beginning of Saul’s response into a rhetorical question, “How could you fight him?”

You are but a youth is introduced by the conjunction for (sometimes translated “because”). This statement is therefore an explanation of Saul’s reason for thinking that David could not possibly go out to fight against Goliath. In some languages this logical connection may be left implicit, but in others it will be better to say explicitly “because you are only a young person.” The word for youth is a very general term that may be used for an infant as young as a few months old (Exo 2.6; 2 Sam 12.16) as well as for a growing boy, a young household servant, or young soldiers in the army. Since David was looking after sheep, he was probably at least in his teenage years at the time of this event. The point is, however, that he was not accepted as an adult capable of fighting in the army.

A man of war: see the comments at 16.18. And compare also 2 Sam 17.8, where the same expression is translated “expert in war.” From his youth uses the same Hebrew root as that in but a youth.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Since David is arguing against the thrust of Saul’s statement in the previous verse, it will be appropriate in many languages to begin this verse with the contrasting conjunction But. Some versions, however, do not translate the common Hebrew conjunction at this point.

As in the previous verse, where Good News Translation omits “to David,” here Good News Translation omits the word to Saul.

Your servant: again this will be better translated by the pronoun “I” in most languages. But the element of politeness and subordination should be conveyed in other ways. See the comments on verse 32.

Used to keep: the most natural translation of the Hebrew participle and verb is with the past tense, as in Revised Standard Version. But in this context, since David is still taking care of his father’s sheep, it is better to follow the model of Good News Translation and use the present tense. Compare New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, “Your servant has been tending.”

A lion, or a bear: Hebrew has a definite article before these two nouns, “the lion or the bear.” This does not mean that David is speaking about a specific animal, however, since in Hebrew grammar the definite article indicates the category of animal. English translations correctly use the indefinite article, and other languages will need to use the equivalent form. In languages where one or both of these animals is unknown, it will be possible to use a more general expression like “some ferocious animal.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The Revised Standard Version rendering I went after him is a literal translation of the Hebrew words, but the meaning of the expression is “I pursued it” (Bible en français courant) or “I would chase it” (New Century Version). New Jerusalem Bible translates “I used to follow it up.”

Delivered it: the pronoun refers to the lamb mentioned in verse 34. And the masculine pronouns him and his refer to the attacking animal.

The pronoun he in the expression if he arose against me may need to be made clearer in translation. It also refers back to “the lion or the bear” who had attacked the sheep.

His beard: it is more natural in English to refer to the hair on an animal’s face as a “mane” rather than as a beard. Technically only the lion and not a bear has a mane. The Septuagint says “throat” instead of beard. For translation purposes it may be better in the receptor language to say “the hair around his throat.” New American Bible translates “I would seize it by the jaw.” Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation translate “I grab it by the throat.”

Smote … and killed: the verb rendered smote twice in this verse means “to hit” or “to beat.” In some contexts it means “to kill.” It is not clear whether one action or two separate actions are intended here. Some understand this to be one action. Klein says “kill him with a blow.” Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible say “batter it to death.” New Revised Standard Version, however, makes this two separate actions, “strike it down, and kill it.” The difference in meaning is slight, and translators should simply choose between the two possible ways of translating.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Your servant: the pronoun “I” will be more appropriate in most languages. See the comments on verse 32. David insists that he is qualified to fight because of his experience in killing wild animals that had attacked the sheep he was guarding.

Uncircumcised Philistine: see verse 26.

Shall be like one of them: in comparing the Philistine enemy to the lions and bears, David is claiming that he will kill the enemy. In some languages it will be appropriate to state clearly how Goliath and the animals are alike. Some may say “will be as dead as they are.”

Defied … the living God: see verse 26.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .