The Greek in James 1:13 that is translated as “tempted by God” in English is translated in Maan as “God does not test/tempt anyone to sin.” Since there is only one Maan word for the concepts of “test” and “tempt” and since the translators felt that God could well test but not tempt, the further specification was felt to be necessary. (Source: Don Slager)
Language-specific Insights
take note
The Greek in 2 Thessalonians 3:14 that is translated as “take note (of those . . .)” in English is translated in Maan as “they put a rock in our hands.” (Source: Don Slager)
blue as the sky
In English translations, Exodus 24:10 is translated as “God stood on a platform of sapphire as blue as the sky.” The translator transliterated “sapphire,” and said the platform was “as black as the sky” since the Maan word for “blue” includes the color black also. We decided to say that the platform was the color of the sky, without specifying the color. That way a light blue color will be in view.
strengthen your weak knees
The Greek in Hebrews 12:12 that is translated as “strengthen your weak knees” (or “guarantor”) in English is translated in Maan as “put a bone in our knees.” (Source: Don Slager)
See also abolish (the law) and guarantee.
released from sin
The Greek in Revelation 1:5 that is translated as “released (or: “freed”) from sin” is translated in Maan as “released from the ropes of sin.” (Source: Don Slager)
See also have anything against anyone / hold a grudge against anyone.
exile
The Hebrew that is translated as “exile” in English is translated in Maan as “war prisoner.” (Source: Don Slager)
flesh
The Hebrew that is translated as “flesh” in English and in some English versions as “muscles” (including God’s Word, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible) is translated in Maan with a word that simultaneously means “flesh” and “muscles,” since “Maan does not have a separate word for muscles.” (Source: Don Slager)
amazed / astonished / marvel
The Greek that is translated as “astonished” or “amazed” or “marvel” in English is translated in Pwo Karen as “stand up very tall.” (In John 5:20, source: David Clark)
Elsewhere it is translated as “confusing the inside of the head” (Mende), “shiver in the liver” (Uduk, Laka), “to lose one’s heart” (Mískito, Tzotzil), “to shake” (Southern Bobo Madaré), “to be with mouth open” (Panao Huánuco Quechua) (source: Bratcher / Nida), “to stand with your mouth open” (Citak) (source: Stringer 2007, p. 120), “ceasing to think with the heart” (Bulu), “surprise in the heart” (Yamba) (source for this and one above: W. Reyburn in The Bible Translator 1959, p. 1ff. ), or “have one’s mouth full” (Maan (source: Don Slager).
In Mark 5:20 and elsewhere where the astonishment is a response to listening to Jesus, the translation is “listen quietly” in Central Tarahumara, “forget listening” (because they were so absorbed in what they heard that they forgot everything else) in San Miguel El Grande Mixtec, “it was considered very strange by them” in Tzeltal (source: Bratcher / Nida), “in glad amazement” (to distinguish it from other kinds of amazement) (Quetzaltepec Mixe) (source: Robert Bascom), or “breath evaporated (or “escaped”)” (Mairasi) (source: Enngavoter 2004).
In Western Dani astonishment is emphasized with direct speech. In Mark 1:22, for instance, it says: “Wi!” yinuk, pi wareegwaarak — “They were all amazed, saying ‘Oh'” (source: Lourens De Vries in The Bible Translator 1992, p. 333ff. )
In Low German it is translated as grote Oken maken or “make big eyes” (sometime followed by: un kreegn dat Stillswiegen: “and became silent”) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).
In the Kölsch translation (Boch 2017) it is translated as brummte de Lück de Kopp or “the heads of the people buzzed,” Bauklötz jestaunt, lit. “marvel toy blocks,” and vür Staune de Muhl nit mieh zojekräch or “so full of marvel that they couldn’t close their mouths again.”
In the Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) it is often translated as baff vor staune or “speechless because of their marvel.” (Source: Jost Zetzsche)
See also amazed and astonished, astonished (Mark 6:51), and I’m astonished.