The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “In the beginning” is translated in Lisu as ꓬꓲ ꓚꓰ ꓬꓲ ꓪꓴꓸ — yi tshe yi vu: “In very early times, when there were no people.” This construction follows a traditional four-couplet construct in oral Lisu poetry that is usually in the form ABAC or ABCB. The same phrase is also used as a title for the book of “Genesis.” (Source: Arrington 2020, p. 58)
In the most widely used Mandarin Chinese Bible translation, the Union Version, the term 太初 — tàichū is used in John 1:1 (but not for Gen. 1:1) — vice versa in the Yue Chinese (Cantonese)New Cantonese Bible of 1997, whereas in Hakka Chinese, 太初 — thai-chhû in Hakka — is used in both cases). Tàichū originally was used in early Daoist writings (Liezi, Zhuangzi — both 5th century BC) which is remarkable because of the connection with “dào” (道) in the same verse (see Word / Logos), suggesting connections between Chinese culture and John 1:1. (Source: Zetzsche)
Other translations include:
Jamaican Patois: “when time started” (wen taim did staat); similarly the English translation by James A. Kleist (1954): when time began or Knox (1949): at the beginning of time
Bariai: “prior to the coming forth of everything” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “When before still in the past” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Kölsch: “in the beginning of everything” (translation by Boch 2017)
German: “primordial beginning” (Urbeginn) (translation by Fridolin Stier, 1989)
English translation of the gospels of Sarah Ruden (2021, p. xlii): “inauguration” which “echoes similar connotations of a Hebrew word in Genesis”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 13:4:
Uma: “What is called [lit., said] loving other, [is] being patient and kind-hearted, not envious, not requesting-praise, not haughty [high-hearted].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “If we (dual) love our (dual) companions, we (dual) don’t get easily angry with them and we are kind/merciful towards them; we (dual) are not jealous and we (dual) are not haughty (lit. tall liver) and are not proud.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If our companions are precious in our (dual) breath, we can endure any kind of harmful things against us. We have great kindness; there’s no jealousy that is hidden in our breaths; we are not puffed up and we do not boast.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “The person who is characteristically-loving (henceforth rendered loving) is patient and helpful. He is not envious. Neither does he boast-about himself nor is proud (lit. make-high his body).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “For really this valuing that I am referring to, it is meek/patient and kind/gracious. It is not envious, not boastful or arrogant.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the person who truly loves his fellow man, this is the person who patient with what he encounters. This is the person who is kind. This is the person who is not jealous. This is the person who doesn’t brag where he speaks.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Jamaican Patois: “When someone has love in their heart, they are kind to people and they take their time with them. They are not hot-tempered or pushy. People who have love in their heart don’t love to show off.”
