foreskin

The Hebrew that is translated in English as “foreskin” is translated into Anuak with the euphemism “tree of their bodies.” (Source: Loren Bliese)

In Rundi, “penis-skin” is used. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

messenger

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “messenger” in English is translated in Noongar as moort yana-waangki or “person walk-talk” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 3:14

Saul’s son: this information has been given several times already (2.8, 10, 12, and 15). The Good News Translation translators did not think it was necessary to repeat it here.

Give me: since David and Michal had actually lived together as husband and wife (see, for example, 1 Sam 19.11), it will perhaps be better to translate this verb something like “Give me back” or “Return to me.”

My wife … whom I betrothed: this may sound unnecessarily repetitious in some languages. If so, it may be translated “the woman … whom I married” or simply “my wife.”

At the price of a hundred foreskins: this refers to the story in 1 Sam 18.20-27. New Century Version completely drops the reference to foreskins: “I killed 100 Philistines to get her.” But it is possible to say something like “I had to kill a hundred Philistines and present their foreskins to Saul as proof of victory in order to marry her” or “In order to marry her, I had to kill a hundred Philistines and prove that I had done so by showing their foreskins to Saul.”

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 .