In Lamnso’, the seat on the right-hand side signifies that the person seated there would have a higher position than the one to his left (vs. just being a seat of honor). To circumvent any misunderstanding of the biblical text, the translation here refers to the “highest seat next to God.” (Source: Karl Grebe in Holzhausen 1991, p. 52)
(Note that in Elhomwe the idiom “I see you through the left hand” stands for “useless.” [Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext])
For more information on the issue of translating “right” vs. “left,” especially in African languages, see Lynell Zogbo’s article in The Bible Translator 2013, p. 36ff. .
The Hebrew, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “idol(s)” in English is translated in Central Subanen as ledawan or “images” (source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. ) and in Cherokee “imaginary gods” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16).
In German, typically the term Götze is used. Originally this was used as a term of endearment for Gott (“God” — see here ), later for “icon” and “image, likeness.” Luther started to use it in the 16th century in the meaning of “false god, idol.” Other terms that are used in German include Götzenbild(er) (“image[s] of idols”) or Bildnis (“image” — Protestant) / Kultbild (“cultish image” — Catholic) (used for instance in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8). The latest revision of the Catholic Einheitsübersetzung (publ. 2016) also uses the neologism Nichtse (“nothings”) in 1 Chron. 16:26 and Psalm 96:5. (Source: Zetzsche)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “well” in English is translated in Cherokee as ama atlvhdiyi or “where you fill it with water.” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “scepter” in English is translated in the HausaCommon Language Bible as “stick of ruling” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin) and in Cherokee as “walking stick of chief” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 17).
The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “widow” in English is translated in West Kewa as ona wasa or “woman shadow” (source: Karl J. Franklin in Notes on Translation 70/1978, pp. 13ff.) and in Newari as “husband already died ones” or “ones who have no husband” (source: Newari Back Translation).
In Cherokee the term is gender neutral and translates to “one who has lost someone.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 100)
The etymological meaning of the Hebrewalmanah (אַלְמָנָה) is likely “pain, ache,” the Greekchéra (χήρα) is likely “to leave behind,” “abandon,” and the Englishwidow (as well as related terms in languages such as Dutch, German, Sanskrit, Welsh, or Persian) is “to separate,” “divide” (source: Wiktionary).
The Hebrew in Genesis 1:21 that is translated as “sea monster” in English is translated in Elhomwe as “big fish.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In Cherokee it is translated as dakwa (ᏓᏆ), a term from Cherokee mythology that denotes “an aquatic (riverine) monster (…) that is considered the father of all fish tribe.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 48)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated by some English translations with the euphemism “to know someone” and by others as “be intimate with someone” or “have sexual relations with someone” is translated in Cherokee as “becoming wise” or “becoming experienced.” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 30)
In Tongan, it is translated as fe’iloaki which “is generally reserved for sexual intimacy bearing the traditional cultural notion of “meeting to make a home.” Source: Ma’afu Palu in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 240ff.)
The Greek that is translated as “paralytic” in English is translated by the Panjabi translation in Persian script with the common expression “one struck by paralysis.” (Source: Yousaf Sadiq in The Bible Translator 2021, p. 189ff.)
In Cherokee “paralysis” is translated as “loss of control” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 33).
