The Greek in Acts 27:40 that is translated as “foresail” in English is translated as “the cloth on the pole that was more in front of the boat in order that the wind might push the boat” in Morelos Nahuatl. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Language-specific Insights
tormented by unclean spirits
The Greek in Acts 5:16 that is translated as “tormented by unclean spirits” or similar in English is translated as “were bothered by evil spirits inside them” in Ayutla Mixtec, “had henchmen of the devil spirits” in Lalana Chinantec, “molested by the not-good-one (devil)” in Morelos Nahuatl, “bothered by the sent ones of the devil” in Chuj, or “the devils hurt they-do-to-them” in Chichimeca-Jonaz.
praise (God)
The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “praise (God)” in English is translated in a nuymber of ways:
- Tae’: “make-great” / “make-great the name”
- Western Highland Purepecha / Morelos Nahuatl: “speak well of”
- San Blas Kuna / Kpelle: “lift up the name”
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “sing the name”
- Highland Totonac: “make good”
- Tzeltal: “say good about”
- Navajo (Dinė): “make known something good about” (source for this and above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
- Isthmus Mixe: “place (God) big”
- Chuj: “say good words about (God)”
- San Mateo del Mar Huave: “honor (Father God)” (source for this and three above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
In Dan a figurative expression for praising God is used: “push God’s horse.” “In the distant past people closely followed the horses ridden by chiefs, so ‘pushing’ them.” (Source: Don Slager)
chamberlain
The Greek in Acts 12:20 that is translated as “chamberlain” or “high official” or similar in English is translated as “an authority for the king” in Morelos Nahuatl or as “worker who had much power” in Eastern Highland Otomi. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
footstool
The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is typically translated as “footstool” in English is translated as “(put your enemies) underneath your feet like grass” in Enxet. (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
In Upper Guinea Crioulo it is “(put your enemies) under your feet so you can rest your feet on them.” (Source: David Frank in this blog post )
In Whitesands is is “door-cloth.” “This would be that rag at the door that you use to wipe your feet after walking in the dirt or mud. Similar to a doormat. The point of comparison would be that a door rag is so low in value/position compared to the one using it.” (Source: Greg Carlson)
Non-metaphorical ways to translate this include:
- Chuj: “become ruler above”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “humble (your enemies)”
- Isthmus Mixe: “give authority to gain the victory over (your enemies)”
- Morelos Nahuatl: “deliver (your enemies) into your hands”
- Rincón Zapotec: “make (your enemies) subject to you” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
member of the court
The Greek in Acts 13:1 that is translated as “(Manean, a) member of the court (of Herod)” or similar in English is translated as “who grew up with Herod as a child” in Sierra de Juárez Zapotec, as “was brought up together with Herod” in Morelos Nahuatl, or “used to live with Herod” Eastern Highland Otomi. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
serve tables, wait at tables
The Greek in Acts 6:2 that is often translated as “serve tables” or “wait at tables is translated in the following ways:
- Desano: “feed the people”
- Lalana Chinantec: “distribute what (the widows) will eat”
- San Mateo del Mar Huave: “distribute food”
- Ayutla Mixtec: “arrange that which we eat”
- Morelos Nahuatl: “feed our brothers”
- Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “give that they eat”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “give what to eat to the people”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “watch over the tables”
- Garifuna: “attend to these things” (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
council
The Greek that is translated as “council” or “Council” in English is (back-) translated in a variety of ways:
- Tzeltal: “officials who gather together”
- Copainalá Zoque: “those who think together”
- Amaganad Ifugao: “those who take charge of the affairs” (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida)
- Ekari: “place for speech-making/discussion”
- Tae’: “great assembly”
- Sranan Tongo, Javanese: “(high) tribunal”
- Marathi: “assembly of their Judgement-court” (source for this and three above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
- Lalana Chinantec: “the people who judge”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “the elders who give them advice”
- Morelos Nahuatl: “junta”
- Sierra de Juárez Zapotec: “assembly of the rulers of the Israelites”
- Isthmus Mixe: “church judges”
- San Mateo del Mar Huave: “big meeting” (source for this and five above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)