The Hebrew in Genesis 3:1 that is translated as “crafty” or similar in some English is translated in Mwera as ugulumba: “mean, crafty or hypocritical.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Language-specific Insights
make love
The Hebrew in Genesis 29:21 that is translated as “make love” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “talk with,” referring to sleeping with someone. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
summer vs. winter
The Hebrew, Ge’ez and Latin that is translated as “summer” and “winter” in English is translated in Chichewa as “dry season” and “wet season.” In Chewa culture, seasons are often defined by the availability of water, which is crucial for agriculture, livestock, and human consumption. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
In Mwera (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Elhomwe it is translated with a single word — enthawi — that relates to both seasons. (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In Newari it is translated as “hot time” (summer) and “cold time” (winter) (source: Newari Back Translation).
harden
The Greek that is translated as “to harden” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “to become stubborn.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
See also harden heart and hardness of heart..
find water
The Hebrew in Genesis 26:32 that is translated as “we have found water” or similar in English is translated in Mwera idiomatically as “we have met water.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
active
The Greek in Hebrews 4:12 that is translated as “active” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as linakombola kamula maengo popowe or “is able to work everywhere.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
time of need
The Greek in Hebrews 4:16 that is translated as “time of need” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as mobha ga ngakola mashili or “days of weakness.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring
The Hebrew in Genesis 38:9 that is translated as “he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “he spilled the semen out of the woman, to avoid her to have a child.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)