Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 4:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 4:29:

  • Uma: “‘Now Lord, hear their words threatening/scaring us (excl.)! That is why we (excl.) ask the Lord, we (excl.) your (sing.) servants, give us (excl.) strength so that we (excl.) can be brave to utter your (sing.) Word.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And now God, listen to their threats to us (excl.). Help us (excl.), your servants, in order that we will be bold to speak your word/message.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And now look, Lord, see their threats to us. Give us, now your servants, boldness so that we might not be afraid to spread your word.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for today, Lord, please hear what they are saying to threaten us (excl.) who are serving you (sing.), and make-us (excl.) totally -bold to be speaking your (sing.) word.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, now, our (excl.) God, remember that threat of theirs to us (excl.), and help us (excl.) to be able to tell your word with a bold mind/inner-being.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Chuj: “And now Lord look; very much comes their anger to us. We, we are your sent ones. Give us our strength so that we don’t fear to tell out your word.”
  • Tataltepec Chatino: “Our Father, look here now, because those over us are very fierce. We want to do your orders, that we tell your word to people. Help us that we be strong and not be afraid.” (Source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (John 3:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:5:

  • Ojitlán Chinantec: “. . . God cannot rule in the heart of a person if he has not been born another time.”
  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “The one who gives new life consists of water and of the Holy Spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit, he cannot go into where God reigns.”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: ” . . . He who doesn’t receive water again, and he who isn’t born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, he cannot go into where God reigns.”
  • Tataltepec Chatino: “Jesus said, ‘It is true what I tell you. It is necessary that a person be baptized with water and the Holy Spirit give him a new life. Then that person will be in God’s hand.” (John 3:6 included) (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘These my words are very true: If a person is not born with water and with the power of the Spirit of God, he will not become a person of God in his Kingdom.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa answered, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, if a person is not born from water and from the Spirit of God, he cannot enter the ruling/kingdom of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said again, ‘It is true what I say to you that a person can be included among the people whom God rules over only if he is born by means of water and by means of the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘This that I tell you (sing.) is true,’ answered Jesus. ‘If a person is not born by/with water and by/with the Holy Spirit, he can not join/belong-to the ruling of God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied, ‘This is the truth which I say to you. No one can be included in the kingdom of God unless he has been given birth to through/by water and the Espiritu Santo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘It is true what I tell you. It is necessary that a person be baptized with water and that the Holy Spirit give him a new life. Then that person will be in God’s hand.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)