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 9:49:
- Uma: “According to the Law of Musa long ago, all food that is offered to God must be salted. So all every person must be made holy with suffering.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Isa said yet, ‘All people have to pass through fire, that means through difficulties, in order that their trust becomes strong.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Every disciple of mine shall be prepared by means of salt and fire, which is to say, by means of hardship, so that his faith might be strenghtened.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “‘All people, they must experience difficulties so-that their behavior becomes-good, like the food that must be salted so-that it is delicious.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “It’s true, there are hardships which will be experienced by all, which cause improvement of their ways/nature. For like the action of salt and fire, these hardships remove whatever is not good or is worthless.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Shuar: “If a person wants to give a meat killed gift to God, he is to salt it that it be good. So also people will taste/experience suffering like fire so that their heart may be good.”
- Mezquital Otomi: “The animals long ago, those that were burned as gifts for God, it was necessary that salt be put on them as God had commanded. Also, you all are like those animals which are burned, because it is necessary that you pass through bad happenings.”
- Tlahuitoltepec Mixe: “All of God’s people are going to suffer here on earth and when they thus do they will result much better. Thus we will imagine it like an animal sacrifice comes out much better when it is sacrificed with salt.”
- Usila Chinantec: “Everyone will be made good through suffering, which feels like fire. All offerings to God are acceptable to him when they are salted.”
- Mopán Maya: “Thus it was. They put salt on the animals they burn before God. It is the same with someone who is believing/obeying me. He will have tribulation [meet pain] so that that man will become good before God,”
- Totontepec Mixe: “Everyone will have hearts like good salt when they have suffered here. This suffering is like fire. . .”
- Sierra de Juárez Zapotec: “Everyone is going to be tried with suffering in this world.” (Source for this and six above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
- German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “This fire is as imperishable as salt. Everyone comes into contact with it. If it is not consumed, it is preserved.”
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.)
