The Hebrew that is translated as “rejoiced greatly” or “celebrated” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “got a very sweet stomach.”
See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”
cart
trouble
The Hebrew that is translated as “troubled” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “stirred the people’s head.”
prophesy
The Hebrew and the 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), and “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom).
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.
chariot
beautiful eyes
The Hebrew that is translated as “beautiful eyes” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “white eyes” (i.e. “big” eyes). Red eyes or small eyes are not considered to be attractive.
foreskin
The Hebrew that is translated in English as “foreskin” is translated into Anuak with the euphemism “tree of their bodies.”
with all your heart
The Hebrew that is translated as “with all your heart” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “with all your liver.”
For other translations using the term “liver” in Anuak see here and see Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”
favor, kindness, loyal love
The Hebrew that is translated as “kindness / loyal love” or “(find) favor” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “bland stomach.”
See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”
harden heart
The Hebrew that is translated into English as forms of “(to not) harden heart” is translated into other languages with their own vivid idioms; for example, Thai uses “black-hearted” (source: Bratcher / Hattoon, p. 272), Pökoot as makany kwoghïghitu mötöwekwo: “do not let become hard your heads” (source: Gerrit van Steenbergen), or Anuak as “make liver strong” (source: Loren Bliese).
See also hardness of heart and see Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”
perverted justice
The Hebrew that is translated in many English versions as “perverted justice” is translated into Anuak as “changed the word of the people.”
conspire
The Hebrew that is translated as “conspire” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “tie the mouth.”
See also conspire (Shilluk).