Language-specific Insights

no one comes to the Father but by me

The Greek in John 14:6 that is translated as “no one comes to the father, but by me” is translated in various ways:

  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “one can’t go to my Father unless he is saved by me”
  • Aguaruna: “no one, just by himself, is able to arrive where my Father is, but with me he is able to arrive”
  • Asháninka: “no one just goes to my Father. I am the one who will take you”
  • Yanesha’: “no one approaches to where Father is if they do not first come to me”
  • Chol: “there is no one who will arrive where my Father is, except those who are in my care
  • Alekano: “by passing me there is no way to approach my Father” (source for this and above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Kupsabiny “nobody can go to my Father’s Homestead if he does not pass through me” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There’s no-one who can go there to God the Father unless I am the trail he travels” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Only those who believe in me will arrive where my Father is” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

overcome the world

The Greek in John 16:33 that is translated as “(I have) overcome (or: defeated) the world” in English is translated as “I am the victor over those of this world” in Aguaruna and “I have taken away the power of the world” in Huehuetla Tepehua. (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

sour wine / vinegar

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated in English as “sour wine” or “vinegar” is translated in the following ways:

  • North Alaskan Inupiatun: “wine”
  • Navajo (Dinė): “sour grape juice”
  • Aguaruna: “bitter drink”
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “cheap wine” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Noongar: “sour / bitter water” (source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
  • Chichewa “spoiled wine” (vinyo wosasa — the word “wosasa” is used to refer to any food or drink that has become bad and produces bad smell because it has either overstayed or exposed to bacteria and other infections) (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “sour wine juice” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Cherokee: “sour” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16)

See also proceeds from the vine / anything that comes from the grapevine and wine.

gave up his spirit

The Greek in John 19:30 that is often translated as “he gave up his spirit” in English is translated in a variety of ways:

  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “And then he died”
  • Aguaruna: “His breath went out”
  • Navajo (Dinė): “He gave back his spirit”
  • North Alaskan Inupiatun: “He breathed his last”
  • Chol: “He caused his spirit to leave him”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “He sent away his life breath” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Kankanaey: “He entrusted his spirit to God” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “He released his spirit” (lit. caused it to spring away) (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Uma: “His spirit/breath broke” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “His breath snapped” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Indonesian Common Language Translation: “His breath was cut off” (source: Daniel Arichea in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 209ff. )
  • Mandarin Chinese (Union Version): “He gave (or: delivered) his soul to God”
  • Cantonese: “He breathed his last (斷氣) and died” (source for this and one above: Zetzsche)
  • German translation by Fridolin Stier (1989) as “He handed over the spirit” (übergab den Geist).

Satan entered into him

The Greek in John 13:27 that is translated as “Satan entered into him” or similar in English is translated as “the devil worked his heart” in Ojitlán Chinantec, “Satan caused him to think” in Aguaruna, and “Satan entered into his mind to do his work” in Mezquital Otomi. (Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

was with God

The Greek in John 1:1 that is typically translated in English as “was with God” is translated in Aguaruna as “lived with God.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

In Kankanaey, it is translated as “(He) was God’s companion” (source: Kankanaey back-translation) and in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as Gott nahe or “near (to) God.”