The Greek in Acts 19:13 that is translated as “exorcist” in English is translated as “people who said that they had the power to take out the demons from the people” in San Mateo del Mar Huave, as “people who understand magic words” in Lalana Chinantec, as “witch doctors” in Isthmus Mixe, and as “men casting out evil spirits” in Teutila Cuicatec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Language-specific Insights
voice of a god
The Greek in Acts 12:22 that is translated as “voice of a god” in English is translated as “God is speaking” in Lalana Chinantec, as “that one who is addressing us is God” in Teutila Cuicatec, or as “this is the word of God” in Tepeuxila Cuicatec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Most High
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Ge’ez, or Greek that is translated as “(God) the Most High” or “Most High God” in English is translated in various way:
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “he, the completely glorified God”
- San Mateo del Mar Huave: “Father God who is high in heaven”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has such tremendous authority”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “he who is the native of the highest place”
- Palantla Chinantec: “the Big God Himself”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “God who has authority over all”
- Estado de México Otomi: “most exalted God”
- Isthmus Mixe: “God who is in heaven”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has a great rule” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Sa’a: “God, the Surpassing One” (source: Carl Gross)
- Elhomwe: Mulluku Muullupalli or “God the Great” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
- Chichewa: Wammwambamwamba: A name of God. While this word is difficult to translate into English, its sense implies that God is highly above everything in his power and greatness. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
practice magic
The Greek in Acts 19:19 that is translated as “practice magic” in English is translated practiced as “know magic words” in Lalana Chinantec, “reading the paper belonging to the demons” in San Mateo del Mar Huave, and “practice witchcraft” in Teutila Cuicatec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
witness
The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and and Greek that is translated as “witness” in English is translated in these ways:
- “truly have seen” in Highland Popoluca
- “telling the truth regarding something” in Eastern Highland Otomi
- “know something” in Lalana Chinantec
- “verily know something to be the truth” in San Mateo del Mar Huave
- “we ourselves saw this” in Desano
- “tell the truth about something” in Eastern Highland Otomi
- “know something is true because of seeing it” in Teutila Cuicatec (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- “ones who will confirm that these-things that you have seen are true” in Kankanaey (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- “ones who are to testify about these things, because it all happened before your eyes” in Tagbanwa (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
magician
The Greek that is translated as “magician” is translated in Teutila Cuicatec and Eastern Highland Otomi as “witch doctor” and in Lalana Chinantec as “person who grabs magic words.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
In Kalmyk the word used for magician means “deceiver, cheat, charlatan.” (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2013, p. 54ff. )
See also practice magic and complete verse (Acts 13:6).
sinner
The Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “sinner” in English is translated in various ways:
- “people with bad hearts” (“it is not enough to call them ‘people who do bad things,’ for though actions do reflect the heart, yet it is the hearts with which God is primarily concerned — see Matt. 15:19“) in Western Kanjobal
- “people who are doing wrong things in their hearts” in San Blas Kuna (source for this and above: Nida 1952, p. 148)
- “people with bad stomachs” in Q’anjob’al (source: Newberry and Kittie Cox in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. )
- “those others who don’t fully obey our laws” in Tagbanwa (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- “people with dirty hearts” or “people who are called ‘bad'” in Mairasi (source: Enggavoter 2004).
- “those who owe sin” in Central Mazahua and Teutila Cuicatec (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
- “those without (or: “who don’t know”) God” (Gottlose) in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999)
- “people of bad deeds” in Bariai (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- “rejected/despised people” in Kupsabiny (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
complete verse (Acts 4:25)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 4:25:
- Uma: “You (sing.) are the one who gave words to our (excl.) ancestor of old, King Daud. Because Daud was your (sing.) servant [lit., ordered-one], and while he was controlled by the Holy Spirit, his words foretold ahead-of-time the opposition of all people, opposing the Lord Yesus. He said like this: ‘Why are the people who are not Yahudi so angry? And why also do the crowds make-plans wanting to oppose the Lord God? Their plans have no purpose.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “You caused your servant, Da’ud, our (excl.) forefather to speak and he was taught by the Holy Spirit what he spoke, he said, ‘Why are the non-Yahudi nations/tribes angry? Why do the people plan/agree to destroy but/and-what’s-more it was useless/there was no (good) result?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “You are the one who said long ago through our ancestor, your servant King David, because when he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, he said, ‘Why are the people who aren’t Jews so angry? And why the Jews think about that which has no purpose?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “You (sing.) moreover are the originator of the words (lit. word owner) that the Holy Spirit caused-David our (excl.) ancestor who served you (sing.) long-ago -to-write saying, ‘Why did the Gentiles become arrogant (lit. raise themselves) against God? Why did the descendants of Israel decide on a useless (lit. without use) plan to fight against him?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Through the inspiration by the Espiritu Santo, our (excl.) ancestor David spoke this which you caused him to speak, saying, ‘Why did the people who don’t acknowledge/recognize God become so angry? Why did people decide to do what is worthless/ineffective?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Teutila Cuicatec: “By means of your Holy Spirit you caused David who obeyed your word to write: ‘Why are all the nations rising up? ‘Why are people thinking about useless things?'”
- Lalana Chinantec: “The heart of your servant David obeyed what the Great Spirit of God wanted back then. He announced your word. He said: ‘Why is it that the other people very much make a fuss? Why is it that the Israel people think thoughts that are worthless?'” (Source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)