The Hebrew in Proverbs 2:3 that is rendered with “cry out” in English translation is translated into Mam (Ostuncalco) as “call out with all your stomach” (for emphasis).
Language-specific Insights
discern, understand
The Hebrew in Proverbs 2:5 that is translated as “you will understand” (or “discern”) in English versions is translated into Mam (Ostuncalco) as “understand in your eye/face” (= understanding, insight.)
his word
The Hebrew in 1 Samuel 1:23 that is rendered in English as “his word” is translated into Mam (Huehuetenango) as “his action.” “Word and action may seem contrasting to us, but actually biblically word and action are closely related, especially in the context of a promise to do something, as here (whether God or Hannah).” (Source: Bob Bascom)
trust with all your heart
The Hebrew in Proverbs 3:5 that is rendered in English versions as “trust in the Lord with all your heart” is translated into Mam (Ostuncalco) as “sit your stomach down with God.”
See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling” and trust.
fox
The Greek, Ge’ez, and Hebrew that is translated as “fox” in English is translated in Mam as “weasel.” Ron Ross explains: “Foxes is often a difficult concept to express in this part of the world. The Mayas don’t seem to know them. In the Mam project we finally put ‘weasel’ rather than ‘coyote,’ which were basically our choices.”
In Toraja-Sa’dan it is translated as sindallung or “civet cat.” H. van der Veen (in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 21 ff. ) explains: “This animal is a real chicken thief, and is a type of cat with a head resembling that of a fox.”
In Noongar, it is translated as mokiny or “dingo” (in Luke 9:58) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang) and in Newari as “small jackal” (source: Newari Back Translation).
In Sümi Naga, the replacement of “fox” with “dog” was cited in 2026 as one of the reasons for the rejection of a new “Easy-to-Read” Bible in that language (see this article ).
See also fox (Herod) and jackal / fox.
clothe with cursing as a coat
The Hebrew of Psalm 109:18 that is translate in English as “he clothed himself with cursing as his coat, may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones” or similar is translated in Mam (Ostuncalco) with an expression which comes from the way liquor enters into the entire body to warm it, and they used this idiom to replace the two figures for complete identification of the curse with the person: “May the curse saturate him as liquor saturates the one who drinks it.”
may his name die out in the second generation
The Hebrew in Psalm 109:13 that is translated as “may his name die out in the second generation” in English (i.e. may all of his male children and grandchildren die and leave no heir) in translated in Mam with the existing metaphor “may his bowl be overturned.” (Source: R. Bascom in Omanson 2001, p. 255)
See also let us swallow them alive like Sheol for the same bowl metaphor.
incline your heart
The Hebrew in Proverbs 2:2 that is translated in English versions as “incline your heart” is translated into Mam (Ostuncalco) as “throw your stomach.”
See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”