The phrases that are translated as “clean animals” and “unclean animals” in English: The first draft into Maan had “animals not cursed” and “cursed animals,” which did not express correctly the idea of ritually pure and impure animals. So it was changed to “animals accepted by God for sacrifices” and “animals not accepted by God for sacrifices.”
In Kwere it is translated as animals “which are eaten” vs. “which are not eaten.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In Makonde is is translated as halali and halamu, derived from the Arabic halal (حلال) and haram (حرام), used for permitted and and forbidden animals in Islam. The Makonde speakers are 90% Muslim and this was chosen because these are widely understood terms and because many of the permitted (clean) foods of Judaism and Islam match. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “there is no health in my bones” or similar in English is translated in Kwere with the idiom “my bones are bursting.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “(under) green tree” in English is translated in Kwere as “under unripe leaves,” i.e. green leaves or leaves that are “alive” (as opposed to dead and withered). (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “discharge” or similar in English is translated in Kalanga with tjigwele, a term that refers to sexually transmitted diseases. (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)
In Kwere, the term ufila is used which implies pus. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “took (the fat . . .)” in English is translated in Kwere as “gathered (the fat . . .)” to make it a more complete sentence. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “into the open field” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “outside the camp.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “spit” in English is translated in Kwere with a term that implies “spitting with disgust,” the same term that is used in Matthew 26:67, when Jesus is spat on. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “practice divination” (or: “augury”) in English is translated in Kwere as sekemulole bawo or “look at the board,” a Kwere idiom for divination including various ways of telling the future or determining causes for misfortune. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
See also divination.
