The Greek that is translated as “no small commotion” or similar in English is translated in Teutila Cuicatec as “(the soldiers) were going crazy,” in Chichimeca-Jonaz as “talked fast about,” in Lalana Chinantec as “spoke very many words,” and in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “were well disturbed.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
mercy
(To view the different translations of this term in a simplified graphical form on a new page, click or tap here.)
The Greek terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.
Here are some (back-) translations:
- Ngäbere: “tender heart”
- Mískito: “white heart”
- Amganad Ifugao: “what arises from a kind heart”
- Vai: “purity of heart”
- Western Kanjobal: “his abdomen weeps”
- Kipsigis: “to cry inside”
- Shilluk: “to cry continually within”
- Navajo: “to feel great sorrow” (“with the connotation of being about to cry”)
- Kpelle: “to see misery”
- Toro So Dogon: “to know misery”
- Western Highland Purepecha: “to be in pain for”
- San Miguel El Grande Mixtec: “to be very sorry for”
- Mezquital Otomi: “to have increasing love for”
- Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “showing undeserved goodness” (“closely identified with grace”) (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida)
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “pity-love”
- Central Mazahua: “very much pity people”
- Alekano: “help people who are suffering”
- Guhu-Samane: “feeling sorry for men” (source for this and three above: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation July, 1967, p. 5ff.)
- Warao: “kobe (= the abdominal region, including the heart) hurts” (source: Henry Osborn in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 74ff.)
- Latvian: žēlastība, the same term that is also used for grace (source: Katie Roth)
- Iloko: asi — also means “pity” and is used for a love of the poor and helpless (source: G. Henry Waterman in The Bible Translator 1960, p. 24ff.)
- Bilua: “forgiving love” (source: Carl Gross)
- Luang: “inside goodness” (source: Kathy and Mark Taber in Kroneman (2004), p. 533)
- Mairasi: “have good intestines” (see Seat of the Mind) (source: Lloyd Peckham)
strife
The Greek that is translated in English typically as “strife” or “debate” is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “speak-war.” (Source: Marjorie Davis in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 34ff.)
voice of a god
The Greek 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.)
transgression, trespass
The Greek that is often translated as “trespass” or “transgression” in English is translated as “missing the commandment” in Kipsigis and “to step beyond the law” in Navajo. (Source: Bratcher / Nida 1961)
In Tepeuxila Cuicatec it is translated as “thing not reached.” Marjorie Davis (in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 34ff.) explains: “[This] implies that the goal was not reached, the task was not finished, or of finished, it was not satisfactorily done. According to the Cuicateco way of thinking of one does not what is expected of him, he offends [or: trespasses] and is an offence.”
gossip (person), whisperer
The Greek that is translated in English typically as “gossip” or “whisperer” is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “speak-hide against people.” (Source: Marjorie Davis in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 34ff.)
prophesy
The Hebrew and the Greek that are translated in English versions as “prophesy” are translated into Anuak as “sing a song” (source: Loren Bliese), into Balanta-Kentohe as “passing on message of God” (source: Rob Koops), and into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that does not only refer to the future, but is “speak on behalf of God” (source: Robert Bascom).
Other translations include: “God making someone to show something in advance” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “God causing someone to think and then say it” (Aguaruna), “speaking God’s thoughts” (Shipibo-Conibo), “God made someone say something” “Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac) (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “proclaim God’s message” (Teutila Cuicatec), “speak for God” (Chichimeca-Jonaz), “preach the Word of God” (Lalana Chinantec), “speak God’s words” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “that which God’s Spirit will cause them to say they will say” (Mayo) (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), and “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom).
In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:
- For Acts 3:18, 3:21, 3:25: nurwowohora — “mouth says words that don’t come from one’s own mind.” (“This term refers to an individual’s speaking words that are not his because either a good or bad spirit is at work through him. The speaker is not in control of himself.”)
- For Acts 19:6, Acts 21:9: nakotnohora — “talk about.” (“The focus of this term is on telling God’s message for the present as opposed to the future.”)
- For Acts 21:11: rora — “foretell” (“The focus of this term is giving God’s message concerning the future. The person who speaks is aware of what he is doing and he is using his own mind, yet it is with God’s power that he foretells the future.”)
Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.
See also prophet and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.
unleavened bread
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “unleavened bread” in English is translated in various ways:
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “bread that doesn’t have its medicine that makes it puff up”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “bread without its sour”
- Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “bread that has no mother” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Mairasi: “bread without other ingredient” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
ruthless, unmerciful
The Greek that is translated in English typically as “unmerciful” or “ruthless” is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “don’t-feel-in-their-breasts.” (Source: Marjorie Davis in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 34ff.)
will of the flesh
The Greek that is translated in English as “will of the flesh” or similar is translated in Tepuxila Cuicatec as “desire of the human body.” A direct translation “is a well-known expression, but it refers to prostitution.” (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1975, p. 201ff.)
saint
The Greek that is translated as “saint” in English is rendered into Highland Puebla Nahuatl as “those with clean hearts,” into Northwestern Dinka as “those with white hearts,” and into Western Kanjobal as “people of prayer.” (Source: Nida 1952, p. 146)
Other translations include:
- Ixcatlán Mazatec: “followers of Jesus” (source: Robert Bascom)
- Tzeltal: “whom God possesses”
- Highland Totonac: “children of God”
- Isthmus Zapotec: “people of God”
- Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “those who believe in God”
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “clean-hearted people” (source for this and four above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
- Garifuna: “people consecrated to God”
- Isthmus Mixe: “the ones who believe God’s words”
- Ayutla Mixtec: “those of God’s”
- Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “people God has cleansed” (source for this and three above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Isthmus Zapotec: “God’s people”
- Mezquital Otomi: “God’s believers”
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “servants of God”
- Tzeltal: “those who belong to God” (source for this and three above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
- Highland Totonac: “chosen” (Source: Herman Aschmann in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 171ff.)
- Kituba: “person of God” (if referring to a person) (source: Donald Deer in The Bible Translator 1973, p. 207ff.)
ankle
The Greek that is translated as “ankle(s)” in English is translated as “the round bone of feet” in Tepeuxila Cuicatec or “necks of his feet” in Ayutla Mixtec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)