The Hebrew in Jeremiah 19:3 that is rendered in English versions as “the ears of everyone who hears of it (disaster) will tingle” is translated into Afar as “(disaster) that will make the bodies of the people who hear it perspire.” (A different bodily reaction associated with frightening news in Afar idiom.)
Language-specific Insights
motion to
In Afar the term in John 13:24 that is translated into English as “motion to” is translated as minin cassa heeh: “signal with eyebrow.”
See also motion (to speak).
orphaned
In Afar the phrase in John 14:18 that is translated into English as “I will not leave you orphaned” is translated as abba akak rabe diidaale matakkaanay: “you will not become like bees whose father/leader has died.”
See also orphan.
Haman hurried to his house mourning and with his head covered
The Hebrew and Greek that is rendered in English translations as “Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered” was translated into Afar as Haaman wacarriyih namma gaba amol luk isi buxah arduk yuduure.: “Haman, having both hands on his head in shame, returned to his home running.” (Shame is shown by placing both hands on top of one’s head.)
In Newari it is translated as “Haman, however, being ashamed, with bursting heart, hurried back to his own house” (source: Newari Back Translation).
See also shake the head.
not speak in the name of Jesus
In Afar the phrase in Acts 5:40 that is translated as “not to speak in the name of Jesus” is translated as Yaasus xagar numul maxagina: “Don’t touch (on) the body of Jesus to a person.”
See also in the name of / in my name / in your name / on the account of my name / on the account of his name.
under tongues are mischief and iniquity
The Hebrew in Psalm 10:7 that is rendered in English as “under their tongues are mischief and iniquity” is translated into Afar as “words that come from their mouth are like vomit.”
surround like men guarding a field
The Hebrew in Jeremiah 4:17 that is rendered in English versions as “surround like men guarding a field” does not fit in Afar as a metaphor for a siege of a city since the intent of guarding a field is protection while that of the siege is to harm. So it was translated as “They will encircle Jerusalem as when men encircle a bad-tempered bull they want to slaughter.” (Fields are not common, so a cattle-raising comparison was used.)
bird hatching eggs that it did not (Jeremiah 17:11)
The Hebrew simile in Jeremiah 17:11 that is translated in English as “a bird hatching eggs that it didn’t lay” is not clear in Afar so it was changed to “like a man who wants to inherit property which his parents didn’t leave to him.”