Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Genesis 14:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 14:17:

  • Kankanaey: “When plural Abram then went-home coming-from their defeating of plural Kedorlaomer and his companion kings, the king at Sodoma went and met (him) at the plain at Save which they also call Plain of Kings.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After Abram came [back], having defeated Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, he King of Sodom came to meet with him in the Valley of Shaveh. This place is also called ‘King Valley.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Abram was- now -returning-home, after they defeated Kedorlaomer and his companion kings, he was-met by a king of Sodom at the Valley/Plain of Shave (which is also called the Valley of King).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “As Abram was returning home after he and his men had defeated the armies of King Chedorlaomer and the other kings who had fought alongside him, the king of Sodom went north to meet him in Shaveh Valley, which people call the King’s Valley.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 16:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 16:9:

  • Kankanaey: “Then the angel of God said to her, ‘Return to your (sing.) boss so-that you (sing.) will serve her.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then the angel of the LORD said to her — ‘You go back to your master’s wife, and be submissive to her.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The angel said to her, ‘Go back to your mistress and be-subject to her.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The angel said, ‘Go back to your mistress and be under her authority’.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 17:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 17:25:

  • Kankanaey: “And as for Abraham, he immediately obeyed what God had commanded to him. Because on that day, he circumcised Ismael and all his male slaves that were born in his house and all also that he had bought. On that very same day, Abraham also had-himself-circumcised, so they all were-at-the-same-time to be circumcised. Ninety and nine were the years of Abraham upon his being circumcised. Ismael also his child, he yeared ten and three.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And his son, Ishmael was 13 years old.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and Ishmael himself was- 13 years -of-age.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “and Ishmael was thirteen years old when Abraham circumcised him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 18:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 18:30:

  • Kankanaey: “Abraham said again, ‘Sir/Lord, please don’t be-angry-with-me for this that I will again ask you (sing.). But in-case there are only thirty?’ ‘If there are thirty that I come-upon, I will not punish their town,’ God also said.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Abraham said — ‘Lord, Don’t be angry that I again ask a question, If there are only thirty good people in that city, what will you do?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Abraham again said, ‘Hopefully you will- not just -be-angry with me, Lord, for I will- still -ask. So/How-about, if perchance there are only 30 righteous people?’ The Lord answered, ‘I will- still not -destroy the city if I can-find 30 righteous-(ones).'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Abraham said, ‘God, please don’t be angry now. Let me speak again. What will you do if there are only 30 righteous people?’ He replied, ‘I will not do it if I find that there are 30 there.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 19:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 19:30:

  • Kankanaey: “Since Lot was afraid to reside in Zoar, he went-uphill to the mountain-area. He took-along the two young-ladies who were his children and they resided in a cave.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Because he was afraid to stay in Zoar, Lot, taking along his two daughters going to the mountain, stayed in a cave.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Because Lot was afraid to live in Zoar, he and his two children who were unmarried-girls moved to the mountain and lived there in a cave.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar, so he left there and moved with his two daughters to the mountain, and they lived in a cave.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 22:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 22:4:

  • Kankanaey: “On the third day, Abraham saw-in-the-distance the mountain where they were going” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “On the third day Abraham saw that place far away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “On the third day of their journey, Abraham saw the place ahead that God had-told him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Belanda Bor: “On the third day Abraham saw this place which God told him about. (Source: Tim Stirtz and Mike Cahill in Watters / de Blois 2023, p. 422)
  • English: “On the third day of their travels, Abraham looked up and saw in the distance the place where God wanted him to go.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:13:

  • Kankanaey: “Because here-I-am here at the location of the spring and there are-coming the young-ladies who reside here to go fetch-water.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The girls of the city are coming here to the well to draw water.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I am-standing here beside the well while the women of this city are-drawing-water.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Listen to me. I am standing near a well of water, and the young women of the city are coming to get water.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 25:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:9:

  • Kankanaey: “His children Isaac and Ismael buried (him) in the place-where- Sara -was-buried in the cave at Makpela which was near Mamre, because that just the same was the land that Abraham had bought previously from Efron the child of Zohar who was Heteo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Macheplah which was in the field of Epron son of Zohar the Hittite near Mamre.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “His children Isaac and Ishmael buried him there at the cave of Macpela, in the east of Mamre, in the field that (was) formerly owned/[lit. his] by Efron the child of Zohar the Hithanon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried his body in the cave at Machpelah area, near Mamre, in the field that Abraham had previously bought from Ephron, one of the descendants of Heth.” (Source: Translation for Translators)