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 18:21)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 18:21:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Because I followed the paths of Jehovah;
I do not have any case coming from the eyes of my God.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“because I have been going on the way of the LORD.
and I have also never turned back from my God.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“For I follow your (sing.) ways
and I have- not -left/abandoned you (sing.) LORD, [linker] my God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“I follow, believe, and obey the words that God speaks. And I have not turned away from the words God instructs me.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“I obeyed the ways of the LORD,
I have not left my God, and did bad matter.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Nimezifuata njia za Bwana,
sijamwasi Mungu wangu.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws;
I have not abandoned him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 19:3)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 19:3:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“There is no talking, there is no any words;
their voice is not heard.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“Even though there is no voice,
even though there is no written message,” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“There-is-no word or voice which can-be-heard from them,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“The sky lacks words, lacks speech, and no one hears any voice from it,” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“There is no language which is spoken,
where people do not hear voice of heaven.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Lakini vyote hivyo havina na maneno,
sauti zao hazisikiwi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“They do not really speak;
they do not say any words.
There is no voice from them for anyone to hear.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 21:12)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 21:12:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“for you will chase them and they will show their backs
when you will point them with your arrows.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“The king will strike them with an arrow.
and they will turn and run away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“For they will-flee when they will see that you (sing.) (are) now ready to-punish them, as-if you (sing.)are-stretching-out your (sing.) bow at them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“Surely this king will shoot arrows (from a crossbow) at them, making them all scatter.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“because they will be turn and escape,
when they see your arrows pointing at them.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Utawasababisha kukimbia,
wakati unawalenga mishale usoni pao.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“You will cause them to run away
by shooting arrows at them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 22:31)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 22:31:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“They will announce about his righteousness
to the people who are not yet born
for He has done this.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“Even to those not yet born it will be proclaimed–
‘The LORD has saved His people.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“They who (are) not yet born will-be-told that you (sing.) saved your (sing.) people,
and you (sing.) (were) the one (who) has-done this.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“People who are not yet born, surely in the future they will also know about God saving those who believe him.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“They will tell people who are not yet born his goodness,
because the LORD did these matters.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Watatangaza unyofu wake kwa ambao watazaliwa,
watasema, ‘Mungu ndiye ambaye amefanya hayo.’” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“People who are not yet born, who will live in future years, will be told how Yahweh rescued his people.
People will tell them, ‘Yahweh did it!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
complete verse (Psalm 25:16)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 25:16:
- Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
“Turn to me and be kind to me,
for I am alone and I am suffering.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) - Newari:
“Look towards me, and have mercy on me,
for I am alone
and am having a lot of trouble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon:
“Take-notice of me and have-mercy on me,
for I (am) alone and am-being-persecuted.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation) - Eastern Bru:
“Look at me God, and have mercy upon me, because there is no one else who can help me in my troubles.” (Source: Bru Back Translation) - Laarim:
“Turn to me, then have mercy on me,
because the (world took me-I am lonely) and I suffer.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation) - Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
“Unitazame, unihurumie,
kwa maana mimi niko peke yangu, nateseka.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation) - English:
“Yahweh, pay attention to me and be merciful to me, because I am alone,
and I am very distressed because I am suffering/oppressed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)