The claim that David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem reflects a later time in the history of David’s rise to power. Jerusalem did not come under Israelite control until David himself became king (David’s capture of Jerusalem is told in 2 Sam 5.6-10).

His armor refers to Goliath’s armor, or perhaps more generally to Goliath’s weapons and armor. The Hebrew term is a rather general one meaning “gear” or “things” (see the comment on this term in verse 22). The majority of modern versions and commentaries seem to prefer “weapons” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Contemporary English Version, Klein, and Anchor Bible) as in Good News Translation. Both the pronoun referent and the meaning of the noun should be made clear in the translation.

His tent refers to David’s tent. This should be clear to readers and hearers of the receptor language translation.

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 verb Inquire is the common verb meaning “to ask.” The context suggests that Abner will need to leave the presence of the king in order to ask different people whose son David is. For this reason Good News Translation adds the word “go.” Other languages may have to do likewise.

Stripling: this Hebrew word occurs in the Old Testament only here and in 20.22. It may suggest the idea of virility, that is, a young man old enough to father a child. Revised Standard Version translates this word “youth” in 20.22. In verse 58 Saul refers to David as a “young man,” using the common Hebrew word for a full-grown young man. Good News Translation and many other modern versions avoid the problem of translating this unusual word by simply omitting it. Some attempts at translating the term in modern English are “the lad” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) and “that young fellow” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

In languages that prefer indirect speech, this verse may easily be translated as “King Saul then ordered him to ask people and learn who the young man was.”

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 .

As the context makes clear, the Philistine is Goliath.

Took … and brought: These two verbs are probably to be understood in the sense that Abner “took him and presented him to Saul” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “sought him out and led him to Saul” (Bible en français courant). But since they are somewhat redundant, it may be better in certain languages to translate the two by a single verb in the receptor language.

His hand: the pronoun his almost certainly refers to David, just as the pronoun him does. The addition of the word “still” in Good News Translation suggests that the antecedent of the pronoun is David and not Abner, since David would have been the first to pick up Goliath’s head. To avoid the ambiguity, however, Good News Translation uses the proper noun, David, rather than the pronoun.

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 .

And Saul said: it will be more natural in some languages to say that Saul “asked.” And where direct quotations are less common, it may be better to translate this as indirect discourse: “Saul asked the young man whose son he was.”

David refers to his father as your servant, but this should not be taken to mean that Jesse worked directly for Saul. Rather the meaning is that he was a faithful subject of King Saul. Contemporary English Version translates the meaning with “a loyal Israelite.”

Jesse the Bethlehemite: see verse 12. Other possible translations include “Jesse of Bethlehem” (Revised English Bible and New American Bible) or “Jesse, from the town of Bethlehem.”

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 .

At the beginning of verse 1, Good News Translation seems to make a complete break between the opening temporal clause and what follows, while Revised Standard Version seems to relate the two, as does the Hebrew. There seems to be little if any difference in meaning either way, and translators will have to determine which is best for their language. A significant difference exists, however, between the ways that verses 1 and 2 are related in Revised English Bible, which combines the verses as follows: “ That same day, when Saul had finished talking with David, he kept him and would not let him return any more to his father’s house, for he saw that Jonathan had given his heart to David and had grown to love him as himself.” This translation is certainly a possible way of understanding the implicit relationship between these two verses, but no other translation consulted reflects this interpretation.

The pronoun he refers to David, who was speaking in the last verse of chapter 17.

The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David: this Hebrew idiom is found also in Gen 44.30, where it speaks of Benjamin’s relationship to his father; the idiom expresses the idea of great affection. Revised English Bible renders these words “Jonathan had given his heart to David,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “Jonathan felt an instant affection for David.” But according to some interpreters these renderings sound too one-sided, as if David may not have felt the same way toward Jonathan. The expression possibly suggests a more mutual affection. Contemporary English Version retains the idea of two-way sentiment by translating “David and Jonathan became best friends.” While there is evidence that David cared for Jonathan, the emphasis throughout most of the story is on Jonathan’s love for David.

Jonathan: Good News Translation reminds the reader that Jonathan was “Saul’s son.” This has not been stated in the text since chapter 14, so it may be a good idea to add this implied information at this point.

Loved him as his own soul: that is, Jonathan loved David “as much as he loved himself.” That Jonathan loved David is stated again in verse 3 and in 2 Sam 1.26.

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 .

The verb took and would not let him return may sound like imprisonment in some languages. But the idea is rather that he took David “into his service” (Knox), or “kept David in his service” (Contemporary English Version). This should be made clear in translation, and it is not necessary to use parentheses as in New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Fox to show that these words are not written in the Hebrew: “took him (into his service) on that day.”

The antecedent of the pronoun him may be ambiguous if translated literally in the receptor language. If it is, then it will be best to use the proper noun “David,” as in Good News Translation.

The context shows that that day was the beginning of a long period of service by David in the court of Saul. So it may be appropriate to say “from that day forward” or “beginning that day.”

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 .

Made a covenant: literally “cut a covenant.” A covenant is an agreement that two persons or groups of persons make, in which both promise either to do or not to do certain things. See the comments on “treaty” in 11.1; see also 20.8 and 23.18. The agreement was initiated by Jonathan, but David was also committed to the relationship.

Because he loved him as his own soul: the first pronoun refers to Jonathan, and the second pronoun, him, refers to David.

The order of the elements in this verse may be changed for the sake of naturalness in the receptor language. Some may prefer to give the reason for the agreement before the statement about the agreement, rather than afterward as in the original. Contemporary English Version, for example, has “Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends.”

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 verb stripped himself should not be taken to mean that Jonathan was left completely naked. He removed his outer sleeveless robe and his armor, but he would have still been covered. The same verb is used in the Joseph story (Gen 37.23) and of the priests in Lev 6.11; 16.23 (“put off”).

Armor: the same word is rendered “clothes” by Revised Standard Version in 4.12, but its precise meaning is not clear. See the discussion in 17.38. Some say his “armor” (New Revised Standard Version). Others say “his tunic” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New American Bible), “his military dress” (New American Bible), or “his warrior’s garment” (Klein).

The word bow is probably intended to include both the bow and the arrows that went with it. In some languages a single word is used to refer to both, but if this is not the case, translators may do as Contemporary English Version has done, saying “his bow and arrows.”

Girdle: the English word girdle has a special meaning today that is not what the Hebrew means. New Revised Standard Version correctly says “his belt.” Most other modern versions do the same.

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 .