Language-specific Insights

take branches of palm trees

The Greek in John 12:13 that is translated as “take branches of palm trees” or similar is translated in

  • Aguaruna: “cut palm leaves”
  • Waffa: “break off and held leaves like coconut leaves”
  • Alekano: “break off leafy decorative things” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “get some leafy branches” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa as “get fronds from a plant like a badangan (note: a local palm like coconut but smaller)” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi as “pick palm branches” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

See also cut branches.

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.”

I will lay down my life for you

The Greek in John 13:37 that is translated as “I will lay down my life for you” is translated in various ways:

(Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

prophesy

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The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that are translated in English versions as “prophesy” are translated into Anuak as “sing a song” (source: Loren Bliese), into Balanta-Kentohe as “passing on message of God” (source: Rob Koops), and into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that does not only refer to the future, but is “speak on behalf of God” (source: Robert Bascom).

Other translations include: “God making someone to show something in advance” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “God causing someone to think and then say it” (Aguaruna), “speaking God’s thoughts” (Shipibo-Conibo), “God made someone say something” “Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac) (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “proclaim God’s message” (Teutila Cuicatec), “speak for God” (Chichimeca-Jonaz), “preach the Word of God” (Lalana Chinantec), “speak God’s words” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “that which God’s Spirit will cause one to say one will say” (Mayo) (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom), and “bring God’s mouth” (Bariai) (source: Bariai Back Translation).

In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:

  • For Acts 3:18, 3:21, 3:25: nurwowohora — “mouth says words that don’t come from one’s own mind.” (“This term refers to an individual’s speaking words that are not his because either a good or bad spirit is at work through him. The speaker is not in control of himself.”)
  • For Acts 19:6, Acts 21:9: nakotnohora — “talk about.” (“The focus of this term is on telling God’s message for the present as opposed to the future.”)
  • For Acts 21:11: rora — “foretell” (“The focus of this term is giving God’s message concerning the future. The person who speaks is aware of what he is doing and he is using his own mind, yet it is with God’s power that he foretells the future.”)

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

See also prophet and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

clean your hands

The Greek in James 4:8 that is translated as “clean(se) your hands” in English is translated in Aguaruna as “clean up your sin.” (Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation, March 1965, p. 2ff.)