Language-specific Insights

spirit of divination

The Greek in Acts 16:16 that is translated in English as “(she had a) spirit of divination” or similar is translated in Morelos Nahuatl as “in that girl’s heart lived a demon. That demon could say what was going to happen before it happened,” in Lalana Chinantec as “she carried an evil spirit. Therefore she was able to make words ahead of time as to what would happen,” or in Coatlán Mixe as “she has a devil with her with which she foretells.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

In Yalunka an existing local term for “spirit of divination” is used: ninginangana. (Source: Pruett 2014, p. 259)

See also divination

his face was like the face of an angel

The Greek in Acts 6:15 that is translated as “his face was like the face of an angel” or similar in English is translated in Matumbi as “his face changed to look like that of an angel” as in an transformation-like act. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Coatlán Mixe it is translated as “they saw that he was ‘heart-full’ like an angel” and in Lalana Chinantec as “as is the face of an angel, so is the face of Stephen, for it was very radiant.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

pour out Spirit

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “pour out (my) Spirit” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • “spread Spirit” (has idea of distribution without exhausting the source, as light may be spread from person and the total amount of light increased) in Coatlán Mixe
  • “send Spirit, he will enter the hearts of all people” in Central Pame and Lalana Chinantec
  • “give Spirit” in Isthmus Mixe
  • “send Spirit to possess people” in Teutila Cuicatec
  • “put on you the Holy Spirit of God” in Eastern Highland Otomi
  • “give-down Spirit” in Chuj(source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

we cannot keep from speaking

The Greek in Acts 4:20 that is translated as “we cannot keep from speaking” or similar in English is translated as “it is not possible that we leave off this talking” in Coatlán Mixe, as “by all means we are going to tell” in Isthmus Mixe, and as “if it’s right or it isn’t right, we can’t shut out mouths” in Morelos Nahuatl. (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

gnash / grind teeth

The Greek that is translated into English as “gnashed their teeth” or “ground their teeth” is translated in Pwo Karen as “their eyes were green/blue with anger” (source: David Clark), in Yao as “they had itchy teeth” (“meaning they very anxious to destroy him”) (source: Nida / Reyburn, p. 56), in Estado de México Otomi as “gnashed their teeth at him to show anger” (to specify their emotion) (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation, March 1965, p. 2ff.), in Coatlán Mixe as “ground their teeth in anger like wild hogs,” in Rincón Zapotec as “showed their teeth (like a dog) because of their anger” (source for this and before: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), and in Gullah as suck dey teet or “suck their teeth” (source: David Frank).

In the Protestant Mandarin Chinese Union Version and the Catholic Sigao version it is translated with a historical Chinese idiom: yǎoyá qièchǐ (咬牙切齿 / 咬牙切齒) or “gnash teeth, grind teeth.” (Source: Zetzsche)

See also gnashing of teeth and contempt / scorn / ridicule / abuse.

beautiful before God

The Greek in Acts 7:20 that is translated as “beautiful before God” in English is translated in the following ways:

together / with one accord

The Greek that is translated as “together” or “with one accord” in English is translated in Yamba and Bulu as “(with) one heart.” (Source: W. Reyburn in The Bible Translator 1959, p. 1ff. )

In Enlhet it is translated as “their innermosts did not go past each other.” “Innermost” or valhoc is a term that is frequently used in Enlhet to describe a large variety of emotions (for other examples see here). (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. )

Following are some other translations:

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

your blood be on your own heads

The Hebrew and Greek that is often translated as “your blood be on your own heads” or similar in English is translated as

  • “you have the guilt if you don’t receive eternal life” in Highland Popoluca
  • “you are to blame if you lose your own souls” in Coatlán Mixe
  • “you will be to blame yourselves when you do not go to a good place” in Isthmus Mixe
  • “you will be lost but you are at fault yourselves” in Morelos Nahuatl
  • “you are the ones who are guilty that you will be lost” in Lalana Chinantec (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • “if you die in your bad deeds, it’s your own bad fault” in Bariai (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • “let your own blood alone eat you” in Kupsabiny (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • “You have killed yourselves with your own heart” in Chichewa (source: Wendland 1987, p. 28)
  • “your blood will be to you” (existing idiom) in Kwere (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)