The English translation “the word of God came to John” of the Greek original uses the verb “come.” Javanese translates “John was-commissioned with God’s word,” Kituba as “God made-known his message to him” (Kituba) and in Nyakyusa-Ngonde the verb for “found” is used and in Tzeltal “arrived in the heart of.” (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
Language-specific Insights
large lyre / harp
The musical instrument that is most often translated as “harp” or “large lyre” in English is translated in the following ways:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016: “two stringed instrument” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “instruments which have strings to praise you,” “beautiful to-be-listened-to instruments,” or kudyapi (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- Newari: sarəngi (source: Newari Back Translation)
- Adilabad Gondi: karnaat (source: Adilabad Gondi Back-Translation)
- Nyakyusa-Ngonde: zeze (source: Nyakyusa-Ngonde back translation)
- Mairasi: kecapi (“like a ukulele”) (source: Enggavoter 2004)
- Natügu: “ukulele” (source: Brenda Boerger in Open Theology 2016, p. 179ff. )
- Cherokee: “musical instrument made of suspended wires” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16)
In the UBS Helps for Translators‘ Human-made Things in the Bible (original title: The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible) it says the following:
Description: The exact identification of the nevel is very problematic. Some take it to be a kind of harp. The harp consisted of a neck projecting out of a soundbox. Strings were stretched from the extremity of the neck down its length and into the sound box. The body of the harp was made of wood and its strings of animal intestines (perhaps from sheep). The number of strings varied.
Others place the nevel in the category of lyres, where the strings are stretched over top of and parallel to the soundbox. While this is the interpretation preferred here, we will discuss the harp-type of instrument, since the identification is problematic and many translations have preferred “harp” for nevel.
Usage: The strings were plucked either with the fingers or with a thin piece of ivory or metal to give a resonating sound, probably in a lower register than that made by the kinor.
Translation: In several Psalms (33.2; 92.3; 144.9), the nevel is linked to the Hebrew word ‘asor, which could indicate it was “ten-stringed.”
Some degree of cultural adaptation must be made in the translation of these stringed instruments since cultures differ from each other in the shape, the number of strings, and the function of their instruments. Translators will have to select an equivalent instrument in the receptor language. In most passages the most accurate translation for nevel will be “guitar” or some equivalent medium-sized stringed instrument on which the strings are stretched over a sound box and are plucked.
In those passages where nevel and kinor appear together it is recommended that the translator use an instrument that can vary in size and then render the two words as “large and small X,” for example, “large and small guitars.” Alternately, it may be possible to select two stringed instruments that are similar in construction but different in size, for example, “guitar and lute.” It is also possible to say “large and small stringed instruments” or to combine the two, saying “stringed instruments.”
Psalms 33:2: “Praise the LORD with the lyre” (New Revised Standard Version, updated edition) contains two major translation problems. The first problem is that in many languages, the phrase “with the lyre” must be changed into a verb phrase or clause; for example, the whole line may be rendered “Praise the LORD by playing music on the lyre” or “Make music with the lyre, and praise the LORD.” The second problem, which applies also to the second line of this verse, is the terms to be used for the musical instruments here. In languages in which there are several stringed instruments, translators may use one of the smaller ones for kinor (“lyre”) and a larger one for nevel (“harp” in New Revised Standard Version, updated edition). In languages where there is little or no choice, they should use the known local stringed instrument for the kinor, and a more generic expression for the nevel. Where there are no known stringed instruments, it will often be necessary to say “small instruments with strings” for kinor and “large instruments with strings” for nevel.
Harp (source: Knowles, revised by Bass (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1994)
Quoted with permission.
lyre
The musical instrument that is most often translated as “lyre” or “lute” in English is translated in the following ways:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016: pangwe (a musical instrument that is made from a hollow tube filled with pellets or small stones to create a rain-like sound) or “five stringed instrument” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “guitar” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Newari: “sitar ” (source: Newari Back Translation)
- Adilabad Gondi: chondka (source: Adilabad Gondi Back-Translation)
- Nyakyusa-Ngonde: marimba (source: Nyakyusa-Ngonde back translation)
In the UBS Helps for Translators‘ Human-made Things in the Bible (original title: The Works of Their Hands: Man-made Things in the Bible) it says the following:
Description: The lyre consisted of a sound box out of the ends or sides of which projected two arms. The arms supported a crosspiece. Strings descended from the crosspiece over the sound box. As with the nevel, the number of strings could vary. Their varying thickness and tension gave the instrument a range of notes. The lyre was normally made of wood. The strings were made of animal intestines (perhaps from sheep).
Usage: The strings were normally plucked with the fingers. The kinor in particular is frequently depicted as an instrument that accompanied singing.
Job 21:12: For the stringed instrument (kinor in Hebrew) accompanying the tambourine, French Common Language Version has “guitar” and the French La Bible de Jérusalem has “zither,” which seems to be an instrument used in 1 Samuel 10:5. The first line of this verse may also be rendered “The children sing as people play the tambourine and the lyre.” In some languages these instruments will be a local drum and a stringed instrument; the latter may be a guitar. If no instruments can be found to render any of the instruments in this verse, the translator may have to express the whole verse differently; for example, “The children dance and sing and make joyful sounds/music.”
The identity of the instrument called sabka’ in Aramaic in Daniel (Hebrew) is uncertain. New Revised Standard Version, updated edition renders it “trigon,” which is a small triangular lyre-type instrument with four strings. Probably trigon is technically correct, but it is unknown to the average English reader. Good News Translation has attempted to find a better-known equivalent with “zither,” but the zither has far too many strings (over thirty). Some translations use “lyre” for sabka’ and render the Aramaic word qathros before it as “zither”. Revised English Bible has “triangle,” but most readers will wrongly identify that as a percussion instrument. Common English Version avoids the problem by rendering only the first three instruments in the list and grouping the last three together, including sabka’ as follows: “Trumpets, flutes, harps, and all other kinds of musical instruments.”
Lyre (source: Knowles, revised by Bass (c) British and Foreign Bible Society 1994)
Quoted with permission.
complete verse (Psalm 93:3)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 93:3:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Lakes have lifted You Jehovah,
lakes have lifted their voice;
lakes have lifted their roaring waves.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“The waves in the ocean have risen.
The waves of the ocean have become loud.
Dreadfully high waves have risen in the ocean.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“The sea thunders, LORD,
and the waves make-a-loud-noise/thud.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Laarim:
“LORD, the seas shook,
the seas roared with loud voices,
the wind shook the sea very much.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Ee BWANA, bahari zimevuma,
bahari imeinua sauti yake,
bahari imevuma sana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“Yahweh, when you created the world, you separated the water from the chaotic mass and formed oceans,
and the waves of the waters of those oceans still roar,” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 95:7)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 95:7:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“for He is our God
and we are people of his grazing land,
and sheep of his hands.
Today if you hear his words,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“He is our God,
and we are His people,
and the sheep of His flock.
Listen today to what He says.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“For he (is) our (incl.) God,
and we (incl.) (are) his people whom he watches-over and takes-care-of like sheep.
When/if you (plur.) now hear the voice of God,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Laarim:
“he is our God,
and we are the people who he cares for us,
we are the sheep he cares for.
Today, if only you would hear/obey his voice.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Kwa maana yeye ni Mungu wetu,
sisi ni watu wa mbugani mmwake,
tena ni kondoo wake.
Mungu anawaonya watu wake
Sasa iwapo mnasikia sauti yake,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“He is our God,
and we are the people whom he takes care of;
like sheep that a shepherd takes care of.
Today, listen to what Yahweh is saying to you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 98:3)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 98:3:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness on Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“He has remembered his promise to love
and be faithful to Israel.
All who live in the corners of the earth
have seen the salvation of our God.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“He did- not -forget his love and faithfulness to us (incl.) the people of Israel.
(It) was-seen by all the people in every/[lit where ever] part of the world how our (incl.) God caused- us (incl.) -to-win.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Laarim:
“He remembered his love,
and his faithfulness to the people of Israel,
all people from the ends of the earth saw,
the salvation of our God.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Ameikumbuka neema yake,
na ukweli wake kwa Israeli.
Pande zote za dunia,
zimeuona ushindi wa Mungu wetu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“Like he promised to us Israeli people, he has faithfully loved us and been loyal to/not abandoned us.
People who live in very remote places in all the earth
have seen that our God has defeated his enemies.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 102:4)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 102:4:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“My heart has been struck and it is withering like grass;
and I forget to eat my food.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“My heart has become dry like grass.
I have no desire to eat” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“I am becoming-skinny/unhealthy like grass that withers.
And I have-lost appetite to eat” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Laarim:
“My heart is sick, and it stays like dry grass,
I forget also when to eat my food.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Moyo wangu umepigwa, kama vile majani imenyauka,
sitamani hata kula chakula.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“I feel like I am drying up like grass that has been beaten/trampled down, and I no longer have a desire to eat food.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 103:8)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 103:8:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Jehovah is merciful and kind hearted,
slow to anger and of abundant love.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“The LORD is One who has mercy
and who acts with compassion.
He is not One who quickly becomes angry,
and He is filled with unceasing faithful love.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“He takes-an-interest-in-the-welfare-(of others) and is-merciful;
he (is) loving and not quick to-get-angry.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Laarim:
“The LORD, is merciful and compassionate,
who does not become angry quickly, and his love is big.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“BWANA ni wa huruma na neema,
siyo mwepesi kuchukia, ni wa neema sana.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“Yahweh acts mercifully and kindly;
he does not quickly get angry/punish us when we sin;
he is always showing us that he faithfully loves us.” (Source: Translation for Translators)