The Hebrew that is translated as “womb” in English is translated in the latest edition of the Mandarin Chinese Union Version (rev. of 2010) with zǐgōng (子宫), literally “child palace.” (Source: Zetzsche)
See also womb (Japanese honorifics).
Language-specific Insights
the Way
The Greek that is often translated in English as “the Way,” referring to the young church in Acts, is translated in a number of ways:
- Isthmus Mixe: “those who follow the good words about Jesus Christ”
- Morelos Nahuatl; “the Jews who followed that man Jesus
- Lalana Chinantec: “the people who took the trail of Jesus”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “all who believed on Jesus”
- Rincón Zapotec: “those who had received as truth Christ’s word”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “those who walk in the road of the Lord”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “who believed that message” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Elhomwe: “those who lived according to the Way of the Lord” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
- German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “Christian(ity)”
In the Mandarin Chinese Union Version, the most commonly used Protestant Chinese Bible, it is translated as zhèdào (这道) or “this way.” Note that dào (道) or “way” is the same word that is also used for Logos (usually “Word” in English) in John 1:1 and elsewhere (see Word / Logos).
it is finished
For the Greek that is translated with an equivalent of “It is finished (or: completed)” in most English Bible translations a perfect tense is used that has no direct equivalent in English. It expresses that an event has happened at a specific point in the past but that that event has ongoing results. The English “Expanded Translation” by Kenneth S. Wuest (publ. 1961) attempted to recreate that by translating “It has been finished and stands complete.”
Irish uses yet a different system of tenses, resulting in these translations:
- Atá sé ar na chríochnughadh (Bedell An Biobla Naomhtha, publ. early 17th century): “It is upon its completion”
- Tá críoch curtha air (Ó Cuinn Tiomna Nua, publ. 1970): “Completion is put on it”
- Tá sé curtha i gcrích (An Bíobla Naofa, publ. 1981): “It is put in completion”
Source for the Irish: Kevin Scannell
In Ojitlán Chinantec it is translated as “My work is finished,” in Aguaruna as “It is completely accomplished,” and in Mezquital Otomi as “Now all is finished which I was commanded to do.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
In Mandarin Chinese, it is translated as chéng le (成了) which means both “it is completed” and “it is finished” (source: Zetzsche).
Artist Willy Wiedmann rendered this scene this way:
Image taken from the Wiedmann Bible. For more information about the images and ways to adopt them, see here .
For other images of Willy Wiedmann paintings in TIPs, see here.
See also this devotion on YouVersion .
virtue / excellence
The Greek that is typically translated as “virtue” or “excellence” in English is translated in other languages in the following ways:
- Kupsabiny: “good behavior” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Bariai: “good behaviors” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- Mairasi “improved lives/behavior” / “good life” (Enggavoter 2004)
- Uma: “good character” (source: Uma Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “good works” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “really good nature/ways” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “earnestly live good” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- Hausa: “character of goodness” (Hausa Common Language Back Translation)
- Mandarin Chinese: déxíng 德行 or “moral behavior” (Protestant) / yìlì 毅力 or “willpower” (Catholic)
- English EasyEnglish Bible (publ. 2018): “try to do what is good”
- Low German translation by Johannes Jessen (publ. 1937, republ. 2008): “stand your ground as a Christian”
- Pennsylvania Dutch: goot layva or “good life”
Mary / Martha / Lazarus (relative age)
Many languages have terms for siblings that define whether one is younger or older in relation to another sibling.
In Fuyug, Tae’, Batak Toba, and Mandarin Chinese, Martha was assumed to be the older of the two sisters because she is mentioned first. (Sources: David Clark [Fuyug] and Reiling / Swellengrebel)
Navajo (Dinė) translates accordingly but for a different reason: “since Martha seemed to take the responsibility of the housework, she was probably the older of the two” (source: Wallis 2000, p. 103f.) whereas in Mandarin Chinese he is the younger brother.
In Fuyug, Lazarus is assumed to be the oldest sibling on the grounds that he died first, whereas in several Thai translations he is described as the youngest of the three. (Source: David Clark)
boldness
The Greek that is typically translated as “boldness” in English is often translated in the the widely-used Mandarin Chinese Union Version with an existing Chinese proverb: tǎnrán wújù (坦然无惧) or “calm and fearless.” (Source: Zetzsche)
In Makonde it is translated as “being strong in heart.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
seer
The Hebrew that is translated as “seer” in English is translated in Newari as “one who will say what will happen in the future” (source: Newari Back Translation).
In Mandarin Chinese it is translated as “one who sees first” (xiānjiàn / 先见) compared to “prophet” as “one who knows first” (xiānzhī / 先知). (Source: Zetzsche)
In Wolof in these verses as boroom peeñu or “possessor of visions.” In contrast, “prophet” is translated with the established term Yonent (app. “Send one”). (Source: Marilyn Escher)
See also prophet.
gave up his spirit
The Greek that is often translated as “he gave up his spirit” in English is translated in a variety of ways:
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “And then he died”
- Aguaruna: “His breath went out”
- Navajo (Dinė): “He gave back his spirit”
- North Alaskan Inupiatun: “He breathed his last”
- Chol: “He caused his spirit to leave him”
- Lalana Chinantec: “He sent away his life breath” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Kankanaey: “He entrusted his spirit to God” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “He released his spirit” (lit. caused it to spring away) (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Uma: “His spirit/breath broke” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “His breath snapped” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Indonesian Common Language Translation: “His breath was cut off” (source: Daniel Arichea in The Bible Translator 1983, p. 209ff. )
- Mandarin Chinese (Union Version): “He gave (or: delivered) his soul to God”
- Cantonese: “He breathed his last (斷氣) and died” (source for this and above: Zetzsche)