sheep

“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep’. In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCAM, p. 70)

Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).

See also lamb.

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 15:9

Samuel had told Saul that all of the people and animals of the Amalekites were to be completely destroyed (verse 3). So the sparing of King Agag and the best of the Amalekites’ animals was directly contrary to the instructions received. Since the sparing of Agag’s life is already stated in the previous verse, it may be more natural in some languages to begin this one by saying simply “They also spared the best of the sheep….”

The fatlings: the Hebrew word is literally “second” or “double portion,” and the meaning is uncertain. (See 8.2 where it clearly means “second.”) Fox takes this to mean “second best,” that is, “But Shaʾul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and the cattle, and the second-best, the lambs and all that was goodly.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible attempt to translate the Masoretic Text, saying “the second-born,” and some have suggested that the second calf born to a cow was of greater value than the firstborn. But the Masoretic Text is obscure, and different small changes in the Hebrew text have therefore been suggested so that the text will read “food with much fat” or “fat animals.”

The words utterly destroy and utterly destroyed are technical terms (see the comments on verses 3 and 8 above). New Jerusalem Bible maintains the technical aspect, as in verse 8: “They did not want to consign these to the curse of destruction; they consigned only what was poor and worthless.”

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text and suggests that the meaning is that some animals, called “the seconds,” were kept and fattened after the firstborn had been given to God. A translation such as “best calves” or “fattest calves” is recommended.

Despised and worthless: the Masoretic Text is uncertain and the meaning is not clear. Furthermore, the first participle is feminine and the second is masculine. On the basis of the Septuagint, many change the first participle to a verb meaning “to be despised” and the second participle to a verb meaning “to be rejected.” In order to heighten the contrast between what the people did destroy and what they did not destroy, some translations insert the word “only” (so Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Fox, in parentheses).

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 .