The Hebrew in Genesis 1:2 that is translated into English as “moving (or: hovering) over the (sur)face of the waters” is translated into Ebira as “(the spirit of God) stayed above the water doing NANANA [ideophone].” (Source: Rob Koops) Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)
In Bari it is translated with bibirto, “which is used of a bird hovering over its nest or fluttering round a bunch of ripe bananas.” (Source: Source: P. Guillebaud in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 189ff. .)
In Kutu it is translated as “spreading over the water” and in Nyamwezi as ku’elela: “to circle around slowly over water, without touching it.” In Kwere it is translated with katanda, which carries the meaning of being ‘spread out’ over the water as one would spread a blanket out over a bed. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew in Leviticus 14:7 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 and Ge’ez that is translated as “ancestors” in English is translated in Kwere as “deceased ancestors” because the word for “ancestor” can also mean “grandfather.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew in Psalm 92:5 that is translated as “Your thoughts are very deep” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “There is no one who knows/understands the things that you think.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew in 1 Samuel 16:12 that is translated with “ruddy” in English is translated in Mandinka as “light-skinned.” “‘Light-skinned’ could be considered a cultural equivalent. Although there are a few people with reddish skin in Mandinka, this is not an attractive trait. The UBS Handbook (A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel by R.L. Omanson and J. Ellington) suggests that ‘ruddy’ may have referred to the hair, but medical people know that reddish hair is a sign of malnutrition.” (Source: Rob Koops)
In Vidunda it is translated as “healthy/strong” and in Kwere as “powerful” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).
The Hebrew in Leviticus 15:8 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 in Judges 18:7 that is translated as “living securely” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “without fear.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew in 2 Chronicles 15:5 that is translated as “to go or come” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “to go here and there.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
