Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:24:
Uma: “You [emphatic] killed Yesus, but God made him live again. He freed him from the power of death, because he certainly could not stay dead.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “But God caused him to be alive again. He was set free from the oppression/hardship of his death, because he could not really be governed by death.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However God set Jesus free (saved, rescued), and he raised him from the dead because it is not possible that death might keep him bound.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But God, he made-him-alive again, because it was not possible that death could restrain him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “You really were able to cause this Jesus to be killed, but he was made alive again by God, for it isn’t possible/acceptable that he be restrained by death.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chuj: “But God, he caused Jesus to come back to life again. He was able to come back to life because death had no effectiveness to Jesus.”
Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “God raised him from the dead. He took him out of the place of the dead because it was not possible for him to remain dead.”
Teutila Cuicatec: “But God brought him to life again, taking him out of the hand of death, because it was not possible that he should continue where death rules.” (Source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
The Greek that is translated as “Son of Man” is mostly used by Jesus to refer to himself as well as in the prophecies of Daniel and Enoch (see Enoch 17:34 et al). It is translated in the following languages as (click or tap for details):
Tzotzil: “I who am equal with men” or “The Older Brother of Everybody” (“expressing the dignity and authority of the Messiah and the universality of his work”)
Tenango Otomi: “The Man Appointed” (i.e. the man to whom authority has been delegated) (source for this and preceding: Beekman, p. 189-190, see also Ralph Hill in Notes on Translation February 1983, p. 35-50)
Aguaruna: “One who was born becoming a person” (source for this and two above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Older Sibling of Mankind” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Child of a Person” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “One From Heaven Born of Man/human?” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Man who came from heaven” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Yatzachi Zapotec: “One who God sent, who was born a human” (a direct translation would have suggested “that the father is unknown due to the indiscretions of the mother” and where “he is the son of people” is used when one wants to disclaim responsibility for or relationship with a child caught in some mischief — source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
Kâte: Ŋic Fâri Wâtuŋne or “the man who is a true support” (source: Renck, p. 106)
Mezquital Otomi: “The son who became a person” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
Alekano: “The true man who descended from heaven” (source: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation June 1986, p. 36ff.)
Central Tarahumara: “One who has been stood up to help” (“This suggests that Christ has been given authority to some appointed task. A very generic word, help, was selected to fill in the lexically obligatory purpose required by the word which means to appoint or commission. Usually this word is used of menial tasks but not exclusively. The choice of this generic term retains the veiled reference to the character of Christ’s work which He intended in using the ‘Son of Man’ title.”)
Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “He who is relative of all people.” (“The Triqui word for relative is a rather generic term and in its extended sense sometimes is diluted to neighbor and friend. But the primary meaning is relative.”)
Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “The Person who Accompanies All People” (“The literal equivalents ‘son of man’ and ‘son of people’ were both rejected because of the false inference of natural birth involving a human father. Furthermore, it was necessary to expand any translation of the Bible by the addition of the pronoun ‘I’ so as to clarify the fact that Jesus is using the third person in referring to Himself. A common expression used by the Cuicatecos when difficulties befall someone, is to say to that one, ‘don’t worry, we are accompanying you.’ By this they mean they share that person’s sorrow. When wedding guests arrive at the home of a son who has just been married, they say to the father, ‘We have come to accompany you.’ By this they mean that they have come to share the father’s joy. These expressions do not refer to ordinary physical accompaniment, which is expressed by a set of different verbs. For example, visits are always announced by some such greeting as, “I have come to visit you,’ ‘I have come to see you,’ or ‘I have come to ask you something.’ The desire to accompany a friend on a journey is expressed by saying, ‘I will go with you.’ Translation helpers used the verb ‘accompany’ in constructing the phrase ‘I, the Person who Accompanies All People.'(…) It reflects the fact that Jesus closely identified Himself with all of us, understands our weaknesses, shares our burdens, rejoices with us in times of gladness, etc.”) (source for this and the three preceding: Beekman in Notes on Translation January 1963, p. 1-10)
Guhu-Samane: “Elder-brother-man” (“Since the term denotes an elder brother in every way such as honor, power, leadership, representation of the younger, etc. it is a meaningful and fitting — though not ostentatious — title.” Source: Ernest Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. )
Navajo (Dinė): Diné Silíi’ii — “Man he-became-the-one-who” (“This terra presented a difficulty not only in Navajo but also one peculiar to all the Athapaskan languages. It lies in the fact that all these languages, so far as we know, have a word phonetically similar to the Navajo diné which has three meanings: ‘man, people in general,’ ‘a man,’ ‘The People’ which is the name the Navajos use for themselves. (The name Navajo was first used by the Spanish explorers.) Although it seemed natural to say diné biye’ ‘a-man his-son,’ this could also mean ‘The-People their-son’ or ‘a-Navajo his-son,’ in contrast to the son of a white man or of another Indian tribe. Since the concept of the humanity of Christ is so important, we felt that diné biye’ with its three possible meanings should not be used. The term finally decided on was Diné Silíi’ii ‘Man he-became-the-one-who.’ This could be interpreted to mean ‘the one who became a Navajo,’ but since it still would impart the idea of Christ’s becoming man, it was deemed adequate, and it has proven acceptable to the Navajos.”) (Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )
Toraja-Sa’dan: “Child descended in the world” (“using a poetic verb, often found in songs that [deal with] the contacts between heaven and earth”) (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
Obolo: Gwun̄ Ebilene: “Child of Human” (source: Enene Enene).
Mairasi: Jaanoug Tat: “Person Child” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
Costa Rican Sign Language: “It was impossible to translate the expression ‘Son of Man.’ The son-man sign simply means ‘male child.’ The Costa Rican Sign Language (LESCO) team opted for an interpretation of the term and translated it ‘Jesus.'” (Source: Elsa Tamez (in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 59ff. )
Lokạạ: wẹẹn wạ ọnẹn or “son of a person.” “This translation is symbolic in that it uses indigenous Lokạạ words. However, since the publication of the New Testament in 2006, this phrase has gained popularity within contemporary Lokạạ society as an expression to describe an important person whose career is going well. In the New Testament, the phrase ‘son of man’ is used to describe Jesus as prototypically human, but the Lokạạ phrase is now being used to describe an exceptional person in Lokạạ society.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
In many West African languages, using a third person reference as a first person indicator is common practice with a large range of semantic effects. Languages that use the exact expression “son of man” as a self-reference or reference to another person include Lukpa, Baatonum, Mossi (“son of Adam”), Yoruba (“son of person”), Guiberoua Béte, or Samo. (Source: Lynell Zogbo in: Omanson 2000, p. 167-188.)
In Swahili the expression Mwana wa Mtu or mwana wa mtu or “son/daughter of human person,” which is used by several Bible translations, also has “the idiomatic meaning of ‘a human being’” (source: Jean-Claude Loba-Mkole in An Intercultural Criticism of New Testament Translations 2013, see here). The same is true for the Lingala expression Mwana na Moto — “son/daughter of human person.” (Ibid.)
In Balinese “we are again bordering on theological questions when we inquire as to which vocabulary shall be used to translate the texts where Jesus speaks of himself as ‘the Son of man.’ One of the fixed rules governing the use of these special vocabularies is that one may never use the deferential terms in speaking of oneself. This would be the extreme of arrogance. Now if one considers the expression ‘Son of man’ primarily as a description of ‘I,’ then one must continually indicate the possessions or actions of the Son of man by Low Balinese words. In doing this the mystery of the expression is largely lost. In any case the vocabulary used in most of the contexts would betray that Jesus means the title for himself.
“However, a distinction can actually be made in Balinese between the person and the exalted position he occupies. For example, the chairman of a judicial body may employ deferential terms when referring to this body and its chairman, without this being taken as an expression of arrogance. Considered from this standpoint, one may translate in such a way that Jesus is understood as using such deferential words and phrases in speaking of himself. The danger is, however, that the unity between his person and the figure of “the Son of man” is blurred by such usage.
“On request, the New Testament committee of the Netherlands Bible Society advised that ‘the sublimity of this mysterious term be considered the most important point and thus High Balinese be used.'”
“One of the first things that we did in working through the earlier part of the New Testament was to decide on how we would translate some of the more difficult technical terms. It was immediately obvious that something must be done with the translation of ‘the Son of Man,’ since the literal rendering anak manusia (literally ‘child of a man’) held absolutely no meaning for Malay readers. We felt that the title should emphasize the divine origin and authority of the one who used this title, and at the same time, since it was a title, we decided that it should not be too long a phrase. Finally, a phrase meaning ‘the One whom God has ordained’ was chosen (yang dilantik Allah). It is interesting to note that the newly-begun Common Indonesian (Alkitab Kabar Baik, published in 1985) has followed a similar route by translating ‘the One whom God has chosen’ (yang depilih Allah).”
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:32:
Uma: “We (excl.) are the ones that testify-to all that, we (excl.) with the Holy Spirit also that God gives to everybody that submits to his command.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “And we (excl.),’ Petros said, ‘we (excl.) testify that this is all true. The Holy Spirit whom God gives to all who obey his commands, testifies also.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And, as for us (excl.), we can testify that all of this took place, and the Holy Spirit also affirms this because God causes him to inspire everyone who obeys his commands.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “We (excl.) confirm/verify that all these-things are true and the Holy Spirit whom God has-given to them who are-obeying him also confirm/verifies (it).'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well as for us (excl.), we really testify to the truth of all this. And the Espiritu Santo also testifies whom God causes to indwell those who follow/obey him.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chuj: “We put ourselves in as witnesses about this story of Jesus Christ which we tell. And also His-Spirit God he puts himself in as witness with us. God gives His-Spirit to all those who obey what he says.’ they said.” Teutila Cuicatec: “We are spreading the news about these things in all the authority of God’s Holy Spirit which he causes to possess those who obey his word.” (Source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:27:
Uma: “Because you (sing.) do not abandon my soul to stay in the dwelling-place of the dead, my body you (sing.) do not abandon in the grave until rotten, because I an your (sing.) servant whom you chose.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Because you will not leave me in the land of the dead. You will not abandon/leave my body to rot. I am your holy servant.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because I know that you will not just never mind my soul there in the place of the dead. I, your faithful servant, I know also that you will not permit that my body will become rotten.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “that you (sing.) will not abandon-me in the place of the dead. You (sing.) also will not allow my body to rot, because I singlemindedly/persistently serve you (sing.).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “you won’t leave/desert my spirit there in the wherever of the dead. You won’t leave my body to rot in the grave, I who am always obeying your will.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chuj: “Because you, my Lord, you will not leave my spirit among the dead. You will not allow to decay the body of the one very precious in your sight.”
Morelos Nahuatl: “I have much confidence because you will not leave my soul to remain forever among the dead ones. Neither will you leave my body to decay because I am your son and I am good.”
Teutila Cuicatec: “…nor let thy Holy One see corruption nor will you allow me, whom you love, to rot away.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:44:
Uma: “All of those believers in Yesus, they were united/agreed. Their belongings they had in common.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “All who trusted in Isa were together, and whatever they had they shared/gave to each other if someone was in need.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The unity of the believers was strong. That person who had possessions, he gave also to his companions.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “All the believers were continuing to meet-together and share-with-each-other their possessions.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “As for the believers, what they did was, they were always/often gathering together and they were all really harmonious. They didn’t hold-back any of their possessions which were needed by their sibling in believing.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chuj: “All of them who had believed in Jesus were united in mind. Everything of theirs, one only they treated it (as common property).”
Isthmus Mixe: “The ones who had believed were working together. They owned everything together.”
Eastern Highland Otomi: “All that believed followed one another and what they had they gave to one another.”
Lalana Chinantec: “All the people who believed the words of God were continually coming together; they were very kind to their companions. They never reserved for themselves all of their things.” (Source for this and three above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:6:
Uma: “Petrus also said: ‘I don’t have any money. But what I do have, that is what I give to you: With the power of Yesus Kristus of Nazaret I say, walk!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “But Petros said, ‘I have really no money. But I give you what I have. By the power of Isa Almasi, the man of Nasaret, I command/tell you to walk.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Peter said, ‘I don’t have any gold or silver, but what I do have, I give to you. Because of the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, you are able to walk.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Whereupon Pedro said, ‘I have absolutely no money, but what I do have, that is what-I will-help-you (sing.) -with. On-account-of the power of the name of Jesu Cristo from-Nazaret, walk.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “But Pedro said, ‘As for silver and gold, we (excl.) have none to give, but there is indeed something else I will give you. Through the strength of the supernatural-power of Jesu-Cristo the taga Nazaret, stand up right now for you will now be able to walk.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chuj: “But Peter said: ‘I have no money at all. But what I can do by God, that I will do for you. Only because of his-power Jesus Christ from Nazareth, stand up; walk,’ said Peter.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 2:22:
Uma: “So also there is no person who pours new wine into an old container. Because when it ferments that old container will just break, with the result that the wine is spilled, and the container is wasted. So new wine must be put into a container that is also new.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Isa also compared his teaching with new grape juice that is filled into bags of goat hide. He said, ‘Nobody puts new grape juice that is still bubbling/fermenting, into an old bag. For if he does that, the bag will be split by the grape juice. Then the grape juice spills and the bag is destroyed. Instead new grape juice should be put into new bags.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The same way with wine which has just been made and put into goatskin containers. You cannot put it into old containers because the container will burst and the wine will pour out and the container will also be ruined. It is necessary for wine which has just been made to be put into new containers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Nor does anyone of-course put recently-yeasted grape juice in a dried-up leather bag, because when it ferments, the leather will crack-open and the bag will be ruined while-simultaneously the grape juice will also be thrown-away. Recently-yeasted grape juice then, it must be new leather in which it is placed.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well, no-one also puts new drink into an already old container made of skin which no longer gives. For if like that is done, when the drink ferments/matures, of course it will cause that container to burst. Well, isn’t is so that the drink and the container will be wasted. What is good to put new into is new also, not old.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chuj: 2Also no one puts new wine, wine which is still in the process of expanding, into on old animal-skin wine container. That skin will rip, because the wine is still in the process of expanding. Then that wine will spill out, and the skin will be torn apart because of it. But new wine is put into new skin only.”
Choapan Zapotec: “No one pours new liquor into cracked bottles. If people pour it into cracked bottles, its heat will break them. Both will be destroyed. It is necessary for people to pour new liquor into good bottles, and not into old, cracked bottles.” (Source for this and above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019): “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine gets destroyed along with the wineskins. No, he puts new wine into fresh wineskins.'”
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:19:
Uma: “So relatives, repent from your sins and submit to the Lord God, so that he may forgive your sins. From there, the Lord God will strengthen your hearts and he will order Yesus to come to us. Because he is the one whom God decided upon from-the-start to become our Redeemer King.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Na,’ Petros said, ‘regret and let-go-of your sins, and return now to God so that he will remove/take-away your sins.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And now it is necessary that we (incl.) the descendants of Israel, we must abandon our bad customs. Let’s pray to God and he will forgive us our sins. And then there will be a time when our breath will be given the strength which comes from God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Repent therefore of your sins so you will turn-to-face God, so then he will forget your sins.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore now, repent/be-sorry truly and submit to God, so that you may be forgiven, that your sins may be removed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chuj: “Therefore think yourselves; change yourselves, put your minds into God so that your sins will be caused to be finished-remaining out. If thus, there is a time God will send peace to you.”
Teutila Cuicatec: “Now repent of your sins and call on God so that he can forgive you and quiet and encourage your hearts. (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
