Language-specific Insights

complete verse (1 John 2:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 2:16:

  • Uma: “For all that is in this world–like the evil desires of our hearts, what we see and we desire, whatever makes-high [i.e.,, haughty] our hearts–all that sort of thing is not from our Father, it is from the world [emphatic].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because all that belongs to this world, that means the bad things that ones (dual) body/person craves, and (the things) that one (dual) sees and craves and (the things) that mankind boasts-about, all these (things) are only of this world and are not from our (dual) Father God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For as for any kind of evil behaviour here on the earth, like evil desires or the evil things which are seen and desired by people, or their causing themselves to be praised because of the possessions they have acquired, these things do not come from our Father God, rather they just come from here on the earth.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because all that are like these: the bad-things that sinful people love/want, their coveting (lit. grabbing-after) what they see, and their boasting about their possessions and their status, it is not God our Father who is their source but rather they are from this earth.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because as for all the evil here under the heavens, it really is opposed to God. Like the habit of indulging our own desire which is evil, the habit of wanting to get everything one sees, and the habit of being conceited about the things in our lives. These ways/habits didn’t come from God the Father, but rather they come from here under the heavens.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because all the evil here in the world is not the decision of God, rather it is the decision of people themselves. People do their own pleasures. What all they see, they want to own it all. And they pride themselves about how they live.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “All these things people do who are in this world: they do evil which their evil head-hearts desire intensely, and they do evil which they want to do by reason of what they see, and they are proud of their possessions. The people who do like that think only of what happens on this earth. They do not do what our father God wants.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Because all the deeds of the world, God didn’t cause (prescribe, ordain) them like doing one’s own will, and the sins which one’s heart likes, and when one is proud because of what he possesses. But doings like these originated here in the world.”
  • Tzotzil: “The people (unbelieving) who are here in the world, their hearts are taken up with what their bodies want and what looks nice to their eyes, and what they are proud about (raise themselves up about), our (in) Father God does not want that we (in) still do this also like the people do.”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “Because all that is in this world, the evil our heart begs for, and we want that evil we see, and if we boast because of our possessions, these things our father doesn’t give, but this world gives them.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “All that exists in the world is not really related to the Father. Some things belong to the world. The strong desire of the body, the looking at and wanting things, that by which one glorifies (praises) one’s own life doesn’t issue from God. All of these are part of the world.”
  • Yanesha’: “All what there is on earth, like what our flesh (body) wants, like what our eyes cause us to see, it also, like thus we want them to think well of us, completely vainly, all these things are not from the Father, these are earth-originated things.”
  • Aguaruna: “The wanting by the body, the wanting for things seen, our thinking forwarding ourselves (selfishness, concern for ourselves), these belong to this world here, not coming from Our Father, they are from this world here.
  • Murui Huitoto: “…the bad desires of the heart are things of the earth. The bad desires of the eyes are things of the earth. The pride of things (possessions) are things of the earth.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (1 John 5:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:4:

  • Uma: “For all people who are-children of God defeat the power/authority of the evil-one(s) in this world. We have defeated the power/authority of the evil-ones with our faith.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “because whoever is a child of God (lit: are children of God they) he defeats all kinds of temptation in the world. That is what we (incl.) defeat the temptation in the world with, our trust in Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “for, as for us (incl.) who have now become sons of God, we can now defeat Satan who controls here in the earth; and our defeat over him is our faith in Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “because whoever is a child of God, he is continually defeating that which is on this earth which is opposed to God. And our means-of-defeating, it is our faith.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because as for each one who has been as-it-were given birth to by God, he is now able to be victorious over the rule/hold over him of evil here in this world/land. We can have this victory through the strength of our believing-in/obeying and trust in Jesu-Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because all who are God’s children depart from the evil here in this world. The belief that we have is what wins over the evil here on earth.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we are God’s children we endure to draw away from the evil which is here in the world so it does not win out over us. And because we trust in Jesus Christ, therefore we endure to draw away from the evil which is in this world so it does not win out over us.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Because whoever is born anew of God, overcomes the world. And we overcome the world by our faith.”
  • Tzotzil: “Because we have been born again in the presence of God, therefore all that is here in the world has been conquered by us. On account of our faith (its believing our hearts) is conquered by us all that is here in the world.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “The one who is in-the-state-of-having-become-a-child by-means-of-God keeps on overcoming the world. Through our having rested the whole weight of our hearts on Him we overcome the world.”
  • Yanesha’: “All who are born again from our Father, they surpass that which is on the earth. From our counting on our Father, that is how we surpass that which is on the earth.”
  • Aguaruna: “because God’s children are victors over those of this world here. They overcome because they believe.”
  • Murui Huitoto: “Everyone begotten by God has defeated those of the earth. Because we believe God, we defeat those of the earth.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (1 John 2:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 2:18:

  • Uma: “My children, the end/finish of the world has almost arrived. And like you have often been taught, the one who is named the Enemy of Kristus will certainly arrive. So also, at this time many are they who have appeared who are the enemies of Kristus. That is a sign that the end of the world has almost arrived.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My children-grandchildren, soon the end of this world will arrive. You have been told already that there will come that/who opposes Almasi. Now there are already many here who oppose Almasi therefore we (dual) know that the end of the world is near.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My children, this time will soon come to an end. You have heard that in the future there will appear on titled the Enemy of Christ. Today there are already many enemies of Christ, and because of that, we know that it will really be soon that this time will come to an end.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My children whom I love, Cristo’s coming again is near. We know that the One-who-Opposes Cristo will come first, and here now those who oppose him have already become-many, so that’s how we know that his coming again is near.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “You who are like my children, this ending is now near, which is the end of the world. You have already heard that someone will come who is an opponent of Cristo. And even right now, many are opposing this Cristo, therefore we know now that the end of the world is really close.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my children, now it is close to the ending of the days. You have heard that the enemy of Christ must come into existence. Now there are many who are against Christ. Therefore we know that now it is getting close to the ending of the days.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “My little children, the time is about to arrive for the person to come who will do contrary to Jesus Christ. And you (pl.) have already heard that he is coming, and likewise now many people are doing contrary to Jesus Christ. Therefore we (in) know the time is about to arrive.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “You children, it is the end now, you have heard that a deceiver-Christ, that is, an enemy of Christ, is coming. And now have appeared a lot of enemies of Christ. So we know it is about the end now.”
  • Tzotzil: “My children, it is the time of ending of days right now. We (in) have heard that the enemy of Christ is coming when it comes the time of the ending of days. Right now have already arisen many enemies of Christ. Therefore we (in) know that the end of days is right now.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on TranslationCandoshi-Shapra: “Children listen! This present period of life has been a long time (is coming to an end). You have surely heard that Jesus’ enemy, the false Christ, is coming (warning) soon. Be aware that Jesus’ enemies are already coming, many. That’s why we say the present period of life has been a long time (is coming to an end).”
  • Yanesha’: “Children, already just this left and it is going to end. Thus you heard he will appear, the one who is like Christ, who is mad at Christ, now many appear variously which are mad at Christ. That’s why now already we know just this left and it is going to end.”
  • Aguaruna: “My little children, the last day has almost arrived. You are those who have heard ‘The one who is angry with Christ will arrive (singular)’ that, but I tell you they have arrived (plural), therefore we know ‘The last day has almost arrived,’ saying.”
  • Murui Huitoto: “…you are aware of the coming of the impostor of Christ. He is against Christ. Already many impostors of Christ have come. (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

    • > 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:9:

  • Uma: “Even mankind’s testimony we believe, how much more the testimony of God himself. For that is God’s testimony talking about his Child.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (incl.) believe the witness of humans/men. God’s witness is stronger and this is God’s witness about his Son.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “We (incl.) can be convinced by the witness of mere people, however the witness of God is greater than that, and because of that it is necessary that we believe it. He has testified that Jesus is His Son.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “We admittedly believe what people confirm, but if we believe that, we should especially believe these three which were God’s means-of-confirming concerning his Child, because what God says is of course more important/valuable.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “If we believe the testimony of man, the testimony of God is much sturdier, therefore of course it’s necessary that we believe it. And as-was-said, God is really testifying that Jesu-Cristo really is his Son.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If a person says a word and we believe what he says, won’t we then believe what God says? And it is God who gives testimony who his Son is.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we believe the words of people, why the words God speaks are of greater value. The words which all three witnesses speak are the words which God speaks of his son.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “If we believe the word of people, but then it is more important (necessary) to believe God’s Word, because in it God witnesses about his Son.”
  • Tzotzil: “If we believe the word of people here in the world, more it needs we believe God’s word. God has told us that Jesus Christ is his Son.”
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “If we believe that which people tell us, even more so we should believe God’s telling (that which God has told us). For it is greater. For God Himself said, ‘Jesus is my Son.'”
  • Yanesha’: “If we receive people their causing-to-know, people’s causing-to-know serves. Our Father, his causing-to-know is the thing which exceedingly serves. That which is our Father, his causing-to-know is this: He caused us to know his Son.”
  • Aguaruna: “If another tell, we believe what he tells; but truly that which God tells about his son, more truly we are able (ought) to believe.”
  • Murui Huitoto: “God tells us about his Son. If we receive the word spoken by people we will truly receive the word spoken by God because God’s word is greater.” (Source for this and three above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
  • Garifuna: “God said the same to us about his offspring. If we receive people’s word (message, saying), God’s word (message) is bigger in order /for we receive it.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 2:22)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 2:22:

  • Uma: “Who are those liars? The liars are people who deny that Kristus is the Redeemer King. They are the enemies of Kristus, for they reject God the Father and God the Child.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Now, who is a liar? The liar is a person who says that Isa is not the Almasi who is chosen by God as ruler. The person who says this is the Opposing Almasi. He does not believe-obey in God and his Son.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Who is the liar? He is the one who says that Jesus is not the one chosen by God to rule. The one who says this is an enemy of Christ, for he says that our Father God is not the true one to be worshipped, and he also says that Christ is not the Son of the true God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Who then is the liar if not the one who says that Jesus is not the Cristo whom God sent? The one who says this, he is the one who opposes Cristo, and it is not only God’s Child whom he does not acknowledge but rather God as well.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Who am I referring to as being a liar, if not the one who gives out that as for Jesus, he is not that Cristo who is the Savior King was promised by God? A person like this is who is meant by opponent of Cristo, he who rejects God the Father and his Son Jesu-Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Let us know who the liar is. The liar is that one who says that Jesus is not the Christ whom God appointed to rule. That one is the enemy of Christ because he denies the Father and he denies the Son of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “The person is a liar who says about Jesus that he is not the Christ the Son of God. The person who shoves aside our father God and his son, that person does contrary to Christ.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “We know which word is a lie. That which denies that Jesus is the same as the Christ, the Chosen-One of God. He is God’s enemy who says that, and thinks that Jesus Christ is not God’s Son. Neither does he believe the Father.”
  • Tzotzil: “If we say ‘Jesus Christ has not been given his work by God,’ we are lying. If we say ‘God is not the father of Jesus Christ,’ we are opposing Christ.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “Who is a liar? The person who says of Jesus, ‘He is not the true Christ,’ that one is a liar. The one who says, ‘No’ about-the-Father, and also, ‘No’ about-the-Son, that one is Jesus’ enemy.”
  • Yanesha’: “Who is a deceiver? A deceiver, is he not one who denies how that Jesus is Christ? This one who is mad at Christ is the one who denies how the Father is God and how his Son who is Jesus is the one who Christs.”
  • Aguaruna: “Who is more a liar that one saying ‘Jesus is not Christ,’? (rhetorical question, only possible answer is ‘no-one’) The one who says that, he is the one who is angry at Christ, that one you saying ‘God isn’t our Father,’ and also ‘Christ is not God’s son,’ he says it.”
  • Murui Huitoto: “The one who says that Jesus is not the Christ lies. He is an impostor of Christ. He makes God’s Word as nothing. He also makes God’s sons word as nothing.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (1 John 5:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:21:

  • Uma: “My children, be careful that you not worship lords that are not true.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My children-grandchildren, don’t make-into-God anything other than the true God. Wassalam” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My children, avoid worshipping anything which is not the true God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My children whom I love, be sure to distance-yourselves from false-gods/idols.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My like children, be careful what you believe-in/obey and serve. Make sure that there is nothing at all with which you will replace this true God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my children, do not worship the idols which are merely manufactured.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “My little children, do not worship anything other than only God.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “My dear children, we must not believe the deceiving (untrue) gods. This is what we will think on now.”
  • Tzotzil: “Therefore, my children, idols are not useful to us in any way (means that we should not have anything to do with them). Thus let it be.”
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “Children whom I live, listen! Don’t believe in false gods. That’s all.”
  • Yanesha’: “My little ones, be careful. Do not make another your Father.”
  • Aguaruna: “Don’t make (for yourself) other gods little children.”
  • Murui Huitoto: “Children, beware of imitations of God.” (Source for this and three above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
  • Garifuna: “My children/offspring. Don’t you bow down (worship) before whatever thing that is not God.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 2:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 2:28:

  • Uma: “Continuing on, my children, remain in harmony with Kristus, so that when he comes back, we will be-brave/dare to face him, we won’t be afraid when he comes to us.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Yes, my children-grandchildren, you ought to be one with Almasi so that at the day of his return here, we (incl.) will not be afraid and we (incl.) will not be ashamed to stand before him/in his presence.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And because of all this, my children, hold fast to your oneness with Christ so that you won’t be afraid and you won’t be ashamed in the future when He returns.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So indeed my children, faithfully-persevere in believing in him so that you will thus have nothing-of-which-to-be-afraid and ashamed when he comes again.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, my like children, hold fast to Jesu-Cristo, so that, at his returning here, we won’t hold back or be ashamed before him in his presence.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now, my children, only let Christ fill your hearts now in order that you will be brave when you see him, then you will not be ashamed when he comes.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “And now my little children, we must be constantly present with Jesus Christ in order that when he comes we will not be afraid and will not hide from him in shame when he comes again.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “And now, my children, habitually live with Christ so that we will be bold and not fear, and we won’t be ashamed at his face when he comes.”
  • Tzotzil: “My children, once and for all stay in the presence of Jesus Christ because thus there will be the strength of our hear hearts when he comes, because thus we will not be ashamed in his presence when he comes.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “Therefore, children whom I love, listen! Live (abide) with Christ. If you do that when Jesus arrives we will be at ease. When He arrives, we won’t, being ashamed, be agitated.”
  • Yanesha’: “Now then, my little ones, be one with him. When he (Christ) comes back, he you will count on, you will not be ashamed in his presence when he comes.”
  • Aguaruna: “My little children, live in Him, in order that, when he appears, you without being ashamed, may confidently stay (in reference to him).”
  • Murui Huitoto: “Children, when He appears, in order for us not to be scared, now friend him. When He comes in order that we not be ashamed before Him, now friend Him.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (1 John 3:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 3:1:

  • Uma: “No kidding the bigness of God the Father’s love to us, to the point that he calls us his children. And thus indeed it is. We are indeed God’s children. People who don’t believe in Yesus don’t know that we are God’s children, for they do not know God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Listen! Really great is God’s love towards us (incl.). Because of his great love we (incl.) are called his children by him. And we really are God’s children hep. Because most people in this world don’t know God, therefore they don’t know us (incl.).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “We are very dear in the breath of our Father God, for just look, He has called us His sons, and we really are His sons now. The people here on the earth who are enemies of God, they don’t recognize us as sons of God for they also do not recognize who He is.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Let us think about God’s extreme love for us, because on account of that amazing love of his, he counts us as his children, and so indeed we are. But those who don’t believe, they don’t acknowledge that we are his children, because neither have they acknowledged God who is our Father.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Just think-about (lit. walk on with your mind) how much is the big-size of the valuing of us by God the Father. This valuing by him is really very big, because he now regards us as his children. Well now, it truly is like that, that we are now children of God. But well, as for the majority of people here in this world/land, they don’t know/acknowledge God, that’s why of course, they don’t acknowledge us either whom he has adopted.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Let us know that God our Father truly loves us, because now we are the children of God. And it is true that we are the children of God. But other people do not know that we are the children of God because they do not know God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Think how very much our father God loves us. He loves us very much in that he has done so that he is able to say we are his children. People whose heads are sitting (who are concerned about) just what is happening on this earth do not understand that we are God’s children because they do not understand who God is.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “We believers, let us think. Very much love our Father has done to us, in that he said to (about) us that we are God’s children. And we really are God’s children. So those who follow the world can’t know (understand) that we are God’s children, because they don’t know our Father, God.”
  • Tzotzil: “Hear how it is our Father God loves us that he says to us ‘You are my children.’ Therefore people don’t know us because they don’t know our Father God.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “How greatly the Father loves us! Doesn’t He say of us, ‘My children?’ We are God’s children, that’s what we are. The dwellers in the world don’t recognize God. That’s why they don’t recognize us either.”
  • Yanesha’: “This, you take note of, how he causes us to know, Father how exceedingly he loves us. He wants us to say (know) we are God’s children. We are his children, of a truth. People on this earth, no one knows Christ how he is, that’s why, we, too, no one knows how we are, too.”
  • Aguaruna: “Listen (notice this), our Father, greatly loving us, ‘My child you be,’ saying, he chose us, he having done so we are his children; however people don’t know we are God’s children because they don’t know Him, ‘He is like that.’ saying.”
  • Murui Huitoto: “In what way does God love us? We are named God’s children.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)