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:
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).
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 4:2)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 4:2:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“You people, until when will you be turning my glory into shame?
Until when will you love worthless things and seek false gods?
4” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“O people! How long will you put me to shame?
How long will you falsely accuse me?
How long will you pursue false ideas?
Sela” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“You (plur.) people who oppose me,
when will- you (plur.) -stop putting- my honor -to-shame?
When will- you -stop loving the things that have-no value and following the lies?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“Oh people! How much longer do you want to curse me? And how much longer do you want to continue to do things that don’t make sense? And how much longer do you want to worship gods that aren’t really gods?” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“You people, you turn my glory to be shame until when?
You will say a word that you lie about me until when?
You will love lie until when?” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Enyi watu ninyi,
hadi lini mtaniaibisha?
Mtayapenda ya upumbavu hadi lini?
Hadi lini mtafuata ya uongo?” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“How long will you people cause me to be disgraced instead of honoring me?
You people love to falsely accuse me.
(Think about that!)” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 7:4)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 7:4:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“if I have done evil to him with whom I am at peace,
or without a reason I have snatched (anything) from my enemy,” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“If I have done bad [things] to my friends,
If I have attacked my enemies without reason,
If I have done any such things” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“or I paid-back- bad/wrong -for the good that my friend has-done,
or I plundered/seized/took-by-force the properties of my enemies just without any reason,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“or I did wrong to friends who didn’t argue at all with me, or I stole things of those who are unhappy with me but they haven’t yet done anything to me,” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“If I mistreated a person who stays with me in peacefully,
or I rob my enemy for no reason,” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“iwapo nimemrudishia ubaya rafiki yangu,
au nimenyang’anya vya adui bila sababu yoyote,” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“if I have done evil to some friend who did good things to me,
or if, for no good reason, I have spared (OR, acted violently toward) those who were my enemies,” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 9:10)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 9:10:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Those who know your name will rely on You,
for You Jehovah, you have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“All who know Your name will trust You,
because, O LORD,
You will not abandon those who go on searching for You.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“The people who know you (sing.) trust in you (sing.).
For they who take-refuge/ask-for-help from you (sing.) you (sing.) do- not -reject.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“Those who know your name, surely they believe/trust in you. You never discard people who come to you.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“LORD, people who know you will put theirs hearts on you,
because you do not reject people who are searching for you forever.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Ambao wanalijua jina lako wanakutumaini,
kwa sababu, ee BWANA, huwaachi ambao wanakutafuta.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“Those who know Yahweh trust in him; he never abandons those who come to him
for help/to worship him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 11:4)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 11:4:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Jehovah is in his holy House;
Jehovah is on his kingship seat in heaven.
He watches over children of people;
his eyes test them.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“The LORD is in his holy temple,
The LORD is enthroned in the heavens,
He knows all the works that people do,
because He sees them all.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“The LORD (is) there in his holy temple;
there in heaven is his throne.
He looks and examines all the people.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“God lives in his place in heaven. And he has very great power up above and down below. But God hates evil people and those who do harm to others.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“The LORD stays in his Holy House,
The LORD sit down on his great chair in heaven.
He sees all people,
and examines them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Lakini BWANA yuko katika makao yake patakatifu,
kiti chake cha enzi kiko mbinguni.
Macho yake yanawatazama watu,
anayajua yote ambayo wanayafanya.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“But Yahweh is sitting on his throne in his sacred temple in heaven,
and he watches everything that people do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 16:3)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 16:3:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Speaking of the saints who are in the world,
these are the noble ones, with whom I am pleased.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“The Lord’s faithful ones are all worthy of praise,
I am quite happy to live with them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“Concerning your (sing.) faithful people in the land of Israel who (are) very good,
great is my happiness with them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“Great blessings are those on this earth who believe in God. I live with those people; I am grateful.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“The people of God are good on earth,
I be happy when I stay with them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Nao watakatifu ambao wamo duniani humu,
wao ni wazuri, ndio ambao nimependezwa nao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“Your people who live in this land are wonderful;
I delight to be with them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)