The Greek that is translated as “tempted by Satan (or: the devil)” in most English translations is translated in Tlahuitoltepec Mixe as “and the devil was wanting to cause him to sin, and not once did Jesus obey.” An addition was necessary to indicate that the devil’s desire was frustrated. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
See also tempt.
The Greek that is translated in English as “they were like sheep without a shepherd” or similar is translated in Tlahuitoltepec Mixe as “they were standing about sadly like many sheep whose watcher had gone.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
See also shepherd.
The Greek phrase that is (awkwardly) rendered as “people were marrying and being given in marriage” in some English versions (Good News Translation: “men and women married”) is rendered more straight-forwardly in Chechen and Khakas which uses different words for “marry” for men and women. (Source: David Clark)
In Tlahuitoltepec Mixe it is translated as “no one will go as a wife-seeker, and no one will cause his child to be married.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
The Greek in Mark 13:25 that is translated as “powers in the heavens will be shaken” or similar in English is translated in Tzotzil as “the lights in the sky will come out of their place,” in Southern Puebla Mixtec as “those who rule in the heavens will be caused to move out of the way,” and in Tlahuitoltepec Mixe as “a great shaking will pass in the sky.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
The Greek that is translated into English as “(this) generation” is translated as
- “the people now” in Chol
- “those who are in space now” in Tzeltal (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
- “you people” in Tlahuitoltepec Mixe (source: Robert Bascom)
- “(people of one) layer” in Ekari, Toraja-Sa’dan, Batak Toba
- “one storey of growing” (using a term also denoting a storey or floor of a building) in Highland Totonac (source for this and one above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
See also generations and all generations.
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:31:
- Uma: “But many people who have big lives at this time will have small lives in the future. And many also who have small lives at this time will have big lives in the future.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Many who are ahead now, will be behind in the future and many who are behind now, will be ahead in the future.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There are many people today who seem to have high status, but in the future, their status will be very small. And there are many people today whose status is very small, but in the future, their status will be high,’ he said.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “But many who are high/great nowadays will be brought-low, and also many of the low nowadays will be made-high/great.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “But the truth is, there are many who are great/important today in man’s opinion who will become insignificant/low-class when that day comes. And they are many today who are only insignificant/low-class in man’s opinion who will become great/important in the kingdom of God.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Choapan Zapotec: “Some people rule the days they walk on earth. When they arrive where God is they will no longer rule. Some people don’t rule the days they walk on earth. When they arrive where God is they will rule.”
- Tlahuitoltepec Mixe: “Many whom people think are important, desirable, God is going to make small, and he will better cause to come out pretty those whom people think are not important or desirable.” (Source for this and one above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 12:37:
- Uma: “Yet Daud himself calls him his Lord. With the leading of the Holy Spirit Daud speaks of the Redeemer King like this: The Lord God said to my Lord: ‘Sit on my right side until I make all your (sing.) enemies submit to You (sing.).’ So, if the Redeemer King is indeed a descendant of Daud, why does Daud call him his Lord?’ A great many people had gathered in the House of God at that time, and they were happy to hear his teaching.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Na, look,’ said Isa, ‘if Da’ud calls Almasi his Lord, surely he is not just/only his descendant but he is still greater than Da’ud.’ The crowds were glad to listen to the teaching/preaching of Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus continued speaking, he said, ‘If David said that the expected king was his Lord, can it be that he was just a descendant of David?’ The many people really liked that teaching of Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Then Jesus went-on to say, ‘If David said that the Messiah was his Lord, how is it that he is David’s descendant?’ And the large-group of people liked to listen to what he was saying.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “In that, David indeed was the one who called him his Lord. Well, if it’s like that, isn’t it clear that this Cristo isn’t just the descendant of David?’ Everybody listened well, for that teaching of Jesus pleased them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tlahuitoltepec Mixe: “If he is his boss, how will he only be his grandchild? …” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 19:30:
- Uma: “But many people who are important [lit., whose lives are big] at this time will become unimportant [lit., their lives are small] in the future. And many also the people who are unimportant [lit., small their lives] at this time will become important [lit., big their lives] in the future.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “But many who are first now will be last in the future, and many who are last now will be first in the future.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But many are the people today who seem to be big in rank, but their rank will be very small in the future. And many also are the people today who are very low in rank but in the future they will be very high in rank,’ he said.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “But many who are high/great now will be made-low/humble, and also many who are low/humble now will be made-high/great.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “But it’s true that many are important today in man’s opinion who will become low-class/insignificant when that day comes. And many are only low-class/insignificant today in man’s opinion, but they will become important in the kingdom of God.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Many people are respected here, but on that day very little will they be respected. Many people are not respected here, but on that day they will be respected.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- Choapan Zapotec: “Some people rule the days they walk on earth. When they arrive where God is they will no longer rule. Some people don’t rule the days they walk on earth. When they arrive where God is they will rule.”
- Tlahuitoltepec Mixe: “Many whom people think are important, desirable, God is going to make small, and he will better cause to come out pretty those whom people think are not important or desirable.” (Source for this and one above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
