Language-specific Insights

neighbor

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “neighbor” in English is rendered into Babatana as “different man,” i.e. someone who is not one of your relatives. (Source: David Clark)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun, it is rendered as “a person outside of your building,” in Tzeltal as “your back and side” (implying position of the dwellings), in Indonesian and in Tae’ as “your fellow-man,” in Toraja-Sa’dan it is “your fellow earth-dweller,” in Shona (translation of 1966) as “another person like you,” in Kekchí “younger-brother-older-brother” (a compound which means all one’s neighbors in a community) (sources: Bratcher / Nida and Reiling / Swellengrebel), in Mairasi “your people” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Mezquital Otomi as “fellow being,” in Tzeltal as “companion,” in Isthmus Zapotec as “another,” in Teutila Cuicatec as “all people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), and in most modern German translations as Mitmensch or “fellow human being” (lit. “with + human being”).

In Matt 19:19, Matt 22:39, Mark 12:31, Mark 12:33, Luke 10:27, Luke 10:29 it is translated into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that refers to a person who is socially/physically near. Ixcatlán Mazatec also has another term for “neighbor” that means “fellow humans-outsiders” which was not chosen for these passages. (Source: Robert Bascom)

In Noongar it is translated as moorta-boordak or “people nearby” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also neighbor – relative.

saint

The Greek that is translated as “saint” in English is rendered into Highland Puebla Nahuatl as “one with a clean hearts,” into Northwestern Dinka as “one with a white hearts,” and into Western Kanjobal as “person of prayer.” (Source: Nida 1952, p. 146)

Other translations include:

until the full number of the Gentiles has come in

The Greek in Romans 11:25 that is translated as “until the full number of the Gentiles come in” or similar in English is translated as “until the number of people who are not Jews has been reached of those who will be saved” in Mezquital Otomi, as “just while the non-Jews are being saved, as many as are arranged to be saved” in Isthmus Zapotec, as “until many non-Israelites will trust in Christ” in Yatzachi Zapotec, and as “until there become enough of those who believe in God among other groups” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

counselor

The Greek in Romans 11:34 that is translated in English as “counselor” or similar is translated as “(person who can) cause him (who is so wise) to become wise” in Tzeltal and “(person) who has directed him along the road” in Mezquital Otomi. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

baptize with the Holy Spirit

The Greek that is translated in English as “baptize with the Holy Spirit” is translated in Ixcatlán Mazatec as “(baptize so that) the Holy Spirit will come upon/enter you” (source: Robert Bascom) and in Mairasi as “wash with the Holy Spirit” (“water” baptism is “wash with water”) (source: Enggavoter 2004).

Other languages translate as follows:

  • Rincón Zapotec: “be baptized with the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit will come to be with you”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “God’s Holy Spirit will possess you”
  • Chuj: “God’s Spirit will be given to you”
  • Mezquital Otomi: “be baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit”
  • Mayo: “receive the Holy Spirit in the same way you receive baptism”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “the Great Spirit will enter your hearts” (Source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

See also Holy Spirit and baptism / baptize.

submit to God

The Greek in James 4:7 that is translated as “submit to God” in English is translated as

  • “let God be in charge of your hearts” in Tzotzil
  • “calm down before God” in Guhu-Samane
  • “obey God” in Mezquital Otomi
  • “give oneself over to God” in Sayula Popoluca
  • “stick close to God” in Alekano (source for this and above: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation July, 1967, p. 5ff.)
  • “you must be living underneath God and so be listening to/obeying his voice” in Bariai (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • “pay tribute to Above-One” in Mairasi (source: Enggavoter 2004)

See also not submit to God’s righteousness.