Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Matthew 22:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 22:10:

  • Uma: “The servants went to the roads gathering all the people who passed by, it did not matter is their behavior/character was good or bad. Finally the house of the feast was very full with guests.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then his servants went to the roads and brought all the people they found, bad and good without exception. Therefore the house where the wedding took place was full of people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And his servants left, and they went along the paths, and all the people they saw whether their works were good or whether they were bad, they invited them. And the palace of the king was filled up with people.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So they went and invited all that they found who had good and even bad behavior/character, and the big room for-the-wedding was full.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Those slaves then set out. They went to the trails where many people were. They caused all they met to go with them, nice and badly-behaved. What else but that feast was crowded-out with all those people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The servants went to the people, they brought good people. Therefore the people filled the house.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Philippians 1:3)

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

  • Uma: “Every time I remember you, relatives, I always say thank you to my Lord, the Lord God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I greatly thank (lit. great is my thanks to) God every time I think of you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My thanks to our God is big because of you when I think about you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When I think of you, I thank God whom I am serving.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Really big is my thanksgiving to my God every time I remember you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Every time I think of you, I thank God concerning you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 13:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 13:12:

  • Uma: “After Yesus washed their feet, he put his shirt back on, and he sat down, and he said to them: ‘Do you know what I have just done to you?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When Isa had finished washing the feet of his disciples, he put on again his shirt and sat down again. He said to his disciples, ‘Do you understand as to what I did there to you?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when he finished washing the feet of his disciples, he put his shirt back on and sat down. He said to them, ‘Do you understand the meaning of this which I have done to you?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When it was finished that Jesus had washed their feet, he again put-on his outer garment and sat-down-with them again. Then he said, ‘Do you understand what I have-just-done to you?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When Jesus had now washed the feet of his disciples, he again put on that garment of his which he’d taken off, then sat down again where he had been sitting. Then he spoke, saying, ‘Well now, did you understand this which I did to you?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “After finishing washing their feet, Jesus again put on his cloak. Again he sat down at the table. He said, ‘Do you know what it is that I did to you?” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Matthew 22:42)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 22:42:

  • Uma: “‘What is your opinion, who is the Redeemer King that God promised long ago. Whose descendant is he?’ They answered: ‘The descendant of King Daud.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘What do you say about the Almasi, whose descendant is he?’ They said, ‘The descendant of Sultan Da’ud.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “‘What do you think? The one chosen by God to rule, whose descendant is he?’ And they answered, ‘He is the descendant of King David.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘What is your opinion of the Messiah? Who ancestored him?’ ‘He is David’s descendant,’ they said answering.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘What do you know concerning this one referred to as Cristo? Whose son is he really?’ ‘David’s,’ was their reply.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said to them: ‘Concerning the one said to be the Christ, do you know whose son he is?’ The Pharisees said: ‘Christ is the descendant of David,’ they said.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Matthew 1:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 1:1:

  • Uma: “This is a list/order of those whom Yesus Kristus was descended from. Yesus was the descendant of King Daud, the descendant of Abraham.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “These are the names of the ancestors of Isa Almasi. This Isa Almasi was a descendant of Da’ud and Da’ud was a descendant of Ibrahim.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This is the telling of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is a descendant of long ago King David, David was a descendant of Abraham.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This is the list of the ancestors of Jesu Cristo the descendant of David and descendant also of Abraham.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “These are the ancestors of Jesu-Cristo who came from the descendants of David, whose forefather was none other than Abraham.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Here is the list of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, the one who is the descendant of David. And this David is the descendant of Abraham.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “This book (lit. leaf) talks of Iesus Kristus’ lineage/history from his ancestors. Iesus was a family member [descended] from Devit, and Devit was a family member [descended] from Abraam.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “These are the ancestors of Yesus Kristus, Who is Daud’s child, [and] Abraham’s child.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Hiligaynon: “These are the ancestors of Jesus-Christ who was the descendant of David. This David was the descendant of Abraham.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “This is the record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, the descendant of King David and of Abraham, from whom all we Jews have descended.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Philippians 2:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philippians 2:5:

  • Uma: “Your heart [i.e., attitude, thinking] must be like Kristus Yesus’ heart:” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Your liver should be like the liver of Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It’s necessary that your minds imitate the mind of Jesus Christ.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “You ought to follow-the-example of the thoughts and way-of-life of Cristo Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Yes indeed, it’s necessary that you cause yourselves to be like Cristo Jesus in the meekness/patience of his mind/inner-being.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Do like Jesus Christ did in that he did not elevate himself.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 1:46)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 14:6:

  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘I am the way, I am the one who is true and who gives life. No-one comes to my Father, if not through me.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa said to him, ‘I am the way to/towards God, I am the source of all that is true and I am the source of life. Nobody can come to my Father God if he does not go by/through me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way. I am the true thing to believe, I am the source of life forever. No one can get to where my Father lives if I am not the way he goes on.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon Jesus said, ‘I am the path, because I am the source/origin of truth and the one who gives life. No one goes to my Father if I am not his pathway.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus answered, saying, ‘I am the one who is the trail, I am the one who is the truth and I also am the one who is the life. There’s no-one who can go there to God the Father unless I am the trail he travels.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘Because of me you will arrive to where God is. Because of me you know what is true. I give the new life. Only those who believe in me will arrive where my Father is.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Malay Alkitab Berita Baik (meaning-based “Good News” translation): Jesus answered, ‘I am the way to know God and to have life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)
  • German Gute Nachricht 2018: “Jesus answered: ‘I am the way, for I am the truth and the life. There is no other way to the Father.'”

complete verse (Matthew 23:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 23:28:

  • Uma: “So also you, as far as deeds on the outside that others can see, you are upright. But in your hearts you are deceivers and your character is evil.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Likewise also you, to the people you appear straight/righteous, but in your liver you are only lying and breaking the law.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “You are like that, because when people look at you it is as though your activity is good, but in your breath is lying and lawbreaking.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And likewise also your behavior/character is good in the sight of people, but the truth of it is you are hypocrites and everything stored in your mind/thoughts is evil.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “You are really like that. In the sight of people, your nature/ways are good. Whereas the truth is you are full completely of wickedness and there really is no truth to your belief/obeying.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You are like that, on the outside it appears that it is good how you walk, but in your hearts nothing of the truth appears, only evil.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)