# Can I Get An Ancient Hebrew Scholar, Or A Knowledgeable Jew, Please? (Old Testament Translation Q)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-an-ancient-hebrew-scholar-or-a-knowledgeable-jew-please-old-testament-translation-q/716271>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 29, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-an-ancient-hebrew-scholar-or-a-knowledgeable-jew-please-old-testament-translation-q/716271 "2015-03-29T14:11:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-an-ancient-hebrew-scholar-or-a-knowledgeable-jew-please-old-testament-translation-q/716271/1 "2015-03-29T14:11:35Z")

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> [@1 Samuel 24:3 (New International Version)](#):
>
> 3 He [David] came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.

Does the Hebrew in this passage specify is Saul was doing #1 or #2, or does it use a generic, non-specific term for “relieving himself”?

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-an-ancient-hebrew-scholar-or-a-knowledgeable-jew-please-old-testament-translation-q/716271/2 "2015-03-29T14:32:30Z")

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It’s not just you, and it’s not just the translation you’re using. The actual Hebrew uses a relatively obscure phrase, which is why many of the classical commentators go out of their way to explain it. Literally, it translates as “Saul went in to cover his legs”. The commentators [Rashi, Radak, Ralbag] explain that this is a euphemism for defecating.