Language-specific Insights

in Zion

The Hebrew in Psalm 9:11 that is translated in English as “in Zion” or similar is translated in Khoekhoe with Sionni ai or “on (the hill) Zion.” The translators had to make a grammatical choice whether this referred to a city or a hill and chose the latter. (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

Israelites

The Hebrew in Daniel 1:3 that is translated in English as “Israelites” (or: “sons of Israel”) is translated in Khoekhoe as “Israelite prisoners.” “The concept captives is hard to express in Khoekhoe. ‘Refugees’ suggests that they left at their own initiative. But in this case they were forced to do so. The nearest concept is ‘prisoners,’ although they were not literally in a prison. (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

ten talents of silver

The Greek in Tobit 1:14 that is translated in English as “ten talents of silver” is translated in Khoekhoe as “600 kg. of silver coins.” (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext).

high priest

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “high priest” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “the ruler of the priests of our nation”
  • Chol: “very great priest” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “first over the priests”
  • Desano: “chief of the priests” (source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.).
  • Uma: “Big Priest” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “high sacrificer” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa as “Most-important Priest of God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Big leader of offerings” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

In Khoekhoe the translation for “high priest” is only capitalized when it refers to Jesus (as is Hebrews 2:17 et al.). (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

See also priest and chief priest.

scroll

The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated in English as “scroll” is translated in Khoekhoe with xamiǂkhanisa or “rolled-up book” (source: project-specific notes in Paratext) and in Newari as “paper that has been rolled up” (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also roll up the scroll.