The Greek that is translated as “(out of their) surplus (or: abundance)” is translated into Tabasco Chontal as “they gave money which they didn’t need” and into Tzeltal as “the left-over money.”
Language-specific Insights
all she had to live on
The Greek that is often translated into English as “all she had to live on” is translated into “all she had; this was her food” into Tabasco Chontal or “all she was going to eat” into Copainalá Zoque).
Let no one look down on you
The Greek that is translated as “Let no one look down on you” in English is translated in Tabasco Chontalas “don’t let there be anyone to say that you don’t have brains.” (Source: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)
genealogy
The Greek that is translated in English as “genealogies” is translated in Kwara’ae as “long stories about generations.” (Source: Carl Gross)
In Tabasco Chontal it is “names of inhabitants of a long time ago,” and in Sayula Popoluca “ancient names.” (Source: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)
See also genealogy (Matthew 1:1).
and their knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness
The Greek that is translated in English as “and their knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness” or similar is translated in:
- Tabasco Chontal: “He sent me to teach them the truth so that they might thoroughly do what God wants”
- Isthmus Mixe: “and that they should know that which is true so that they might completely worship God”
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “It is truth, and by it people may know how to worship God”
- Tenango Otomi: “and will know that our faith is true” (source for this and above: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)
doubt
The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “doubt” in English versions is translated with a term in Tzeltal that means “heart is gone.” (Nida 1952, p. 122)
In other languages it is represented by a variety of idiomatic renderings, and in the majority of instances the concept of duality is present, e.g. “to make his heart two” (Kekchí), “to be with two hearts” (Punu), “to have two hearts” (Maan), “to stand two” (Sierra de Juárez Zapotec), “to be two” or “to have two minds” (Navajo (Dinė)), “to think something else” (Tabasco Chontal), “to think two different things” (Shipibo-Conibo), “to have two thoughts” (Yaka and Huallaga Huánuco Quechua), or “two-things-soul” (Yucateco).
In some languages, however, doubt is expressed without reference to the concept of “two” or “otherness,” such as “to have whirling words in one’s heart” (Chol), “his thoughts are not on it” (Baoulé), “without thought in the heart” (Kako), or “to have a hard heart” (Piro). (Source: Bratcher / Nida, except for Yucateco: Nida 1947, p. 229, Kako: Reyburn 2002, p. 191, Huallaga Huánuco Quechua: Nida 1952, p. 123, and Maan: Don Slager)
In Elhomwe the same verb for “to doubt” and “to be amazed” is used, so often “to ask questions in heart” is used for “to doubt.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In Chokwe “kwalajala is ‘to doubt.’ It is the repetitive of kuala, ‘to spread out in order, to lay (as a table), to make (as a bed),’ and is connected with kualula ‘to count.’ [It is therefore like] a person in doubt as one who can’t get a thing in proper order, who lays it out one way but goes back again and again and tries it other ways. It is connected with uncertainty, hesitation, lack of an orderly grasp of the ‘count’ of the subject.” (Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff. )
endurance
The Greek that is translated in English as “endurance” (or “patience”or “perseverance”) is translated in Tzotzil as “(good) strength of heart(s)” (source: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation July, 1967, p. 5ff.), in Isthmus Zapotec as “learning not to lose patience” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), and in Tabasco Chontal as “they shouldn’t get upset over things” (source: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.).
In Mairasi it is translated idiomatically as “having well-split bones” (source: Enggavoter 2004).
in the hope of eternal life
The Greek that is translated as “in the hope of eternal life” in English is translated in:
- Sayula Popoluca: “I serve God because of our life which doesn’t end which we await”
- Isthmus Mixe: “this is why I am waiting for the life which does not end”
- Tabasco Chontal: “I work for God because I know I am going to live forever” (source for this and above: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)
See also hope and eternal life.
