Language-specific Insights

captain of the temple

The Greek that is often translated as “captain of the temple” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Desano: “captain of the temple chief of the persons who guard the big temple”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “boss of the big church of the Jews”
  • Chuj: “chief of the guards of God’s house”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “church building leader”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “boss of the soldiers of the church
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “he who is over the soldiers of the temple”
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “the chief of police of the big church” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

the heavens opened

The Greek that is translated as “the heavens opened” or similar in English is translated in Chuj as “the door of heaven opened.” If translated literally it would have meant that the clouds clear away, leaving an open space between them. (Source: Kenneth L. Williams in Notes on Translation, December 1963, p. 1-4)

uneducated and ordinary men

The Greek in Acts 4:13 that is translated as “uneducated and ordinary men” or similar in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Lalana Chinantec: “people who were not learned, humble people
  • Morelos Nahuatl: “hadn’t studied a lot but were like anybody”
  • Chichimeca-Jonaz: “had not studied long in school, truly ordinary people, that is not officials”
  • Chuj: “they had never studied, they were plain people”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “were not from important families and didn’t know paper (= didn’t have education)”
  • Totontepec Mixe: “they talked like people who plow” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Mairasi: “bees’ wax [i.e., ignorant], unschooled men” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “can neither read nor write nor have they have received any official schooling”

down from Jerusalem

The Greek that is translated as “down from Jerusalem” in English is translated in Chuj as “the trail which leaves from town Jerusalem arrives there at territory Gaza.” If translated literally it would have had the meaning of a very steep trail. No other term has been found in Chuj for a trail which descends slowly from one place to another.(Source: Kenneth L. Williams in Notes on Translation, December 1963, p. 1-4)

speaking about the kingdom of God

The Greek in Acts 1:3 that is translated “speaking about the kingdom of God” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • “Jesus talked with them concerning the matter of God’s having authority over us” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui
  • “he spoke the word of how God is the boss of people’s hearts” in Lalana Chinantec
  • “he taught before them the great big power of God” in Kekchí
  • “Jesus said to them everything which is in God’s hand” in Chuj
  • “they were told by him how God rules Isthmus Mixe (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

See also kingdom (of God / heaven).

every people under heaven

The Greek in Acts 2:5 that is translated “every people (or: “nation”) under heaven” or similar in English is translated as “many other groups of towns” in Isthmus Mixe, “all the villages in the world” in San Mateo Del Mar Huave, “all over the world where there are people” in Central Pame, and “every tribe there is in the world” in Chuj. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

know everyone's heart

The Greek in Acts 1:24 that is translated in English as “(you) know everyone’s heart” or similar is translated in Enlhet as “(you) know everyone’s innermost.” “Innermost” or valhoc is a term that is frequently used in Enlhet to describe a large variety of emotions or states of mind (for other examples see here). (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. )

It is translated as “who knowest the hearts of all men you know what the hearts of all the people in the world are like” in Lalana Chinantec, as “you know the hearts of all” in Morelos Nahuatl, as “you know what is in our hearts” in Chuj, and as “you know all people’s hearts and minds” in Isthmus Mixe. (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)