The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
Chichicapan Zapotec: “ox cart” (in Acts 8) (ox carts are common vehicles for travel) (source: Loren Bliese)
Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
HausaCommon Language Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
The Greek, Ge’ez, Latin and Hebrew that is often translated as “repent” or “repentance” is (back-) translated in various ways (click or tap here to see the rest of this insight):
Embu: “change heart” (“2 Cor. 7:10 says ‘For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.’ In ordinary speech the terms ‘repent’ and ‘regret’ are used interchangeably in Embu, so that this verse comes out as: ‘godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no repentance,’ which is contradictory. The problem was solved by using ‘changing heart’ in the first, and ‘sadness’ in the second.”) (source: Jan Sterk)
Muna: dofetompa’ao dhosa bhe dodoli ne Lahata’ala: “radically-end sin and to turn to God” (source: René van den Berg)
Bacama: por-njiya: “fetch sand” (“Before the coming of Christianity 100 years ago, when the elders went to pray to the gods, they would take sand and throw it over each shoulder and down their backs while confessing their sins. Covering themselves with sand was a ritual to show that they were sorry for what they had done wrong, sort of like covering oneself with sackcloth and ashes. Now idol worship for the most part is abandoned in Bacama culture, but the Christian church has retained the phrase por-njiya to mean ‘repent, doing something to show sorrow for one’s sins’” — source: David Frank in this blog post .)
Enlhet “exchange innermosts.” “Innermost” or valhoc is a term that is frequently used in Enlhet to describe a large variety of emotions or states of mind (for other examples see here). (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. )
Isthmus Zapotec: “heart becomes soft” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Cherokee: “change one’s thinking” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 23)
Sabaot: “give one’s neck” — relating to traditional legal proceedings where someone who is convicted of a crime kneels before the aggrieved person who can either behead the accused or completely forgive (source Danny Foster in this recording )
Kâte: maŋ bârisiezo or “turn the insides around” (source: Renck 1990, p. 108)
Merina Malagasy: fifonana, deriving from mifona “meaning ‘to completely uproot so that something new can grow’ (a term also used for the loss of a baby tooth)” (source: Brigitte Rabarijaona)
“In Tzotzil two reflexive verbs to communicate the biblical concept of repentance are used. Xca’i jba means to know or to reflect inwardly on one’s self. This self inquiry or self examination is similar to the attitude of the prodigal son where Luke 15:17 records that ‘he came to his senses.’ Broke, starving, and slopping hogs, the prodigal admitted to himself that he was in the wrong place. The second reflexive verb ‘jsutes jba’ means turning away from what one is and turning to something else. In a sense, it is deciding against one’s self and toward someone else. It is similar to the attitude of the prodigal son when he said, ‘I will get up and go to my father’ (Luke 15:18).” (source: Aeilts 2009, p. 118)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 1:3:
Uma: “until the day arrived of his being lifted going to heaven. After he was killed and brought back alive, many times he appeared to his apostles, so that they would clearly know that he lived again. During forty days, they indeed saw him and he taught them of God’s purpose of lifting mankind from the punishment of their sins and making them his people in his Kingdom. Before he left going to heaven, with authority of the Holy Spirit he placed [i.e., gave] his commands to those apostles of his whom he had chosen.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “After his death, during forty days Isa often hep appeared to the persons/people he had commissioned. There were many signs which he showed (to prove) that he was really alive. They saw him and he spoke to them about the rule of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “until he was taken up by God to heaven. When Jesus was killed and rose again, there were many ways in which he showed his apostles proof that he was raised from the dead. For within forty days from that time he was always appearing to them. He taught them the ruling of God. Before he was taken up to heaven, he taught by means of the power of the Holy Spirit that which he wanted them to do to the apostles whom he had chosen before.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “from when-he-began to teach until his being-raised to heaven. When he died and-then lived again, he appeared to those whom he chose as apostles, and he did many things so-that they would thoroughly come-to-know that he lived again. Forty days went by during which he was appearing to them and was teaching them concerning God’s ruling. He also commanded them that which the Ispirito Santo (Holy Spirit) had-him-tell.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “As for those disciples of his, they are the ones meant by apostles. And from when Jesus was killed and came alive again till his returning to heaven, for the space of forty days he was always/often coming to see them. Many were the evidences which he showed that he truly was alive again, and he was still teaching them concerning the kingdom of God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Eastern Highland Otomi: “Jesus saw suffering and died. When he had risen from the dead, he went to where the disciples were. The disciples saw that he lived again. And he showed them many works so that they could know that he lived. Forty days he lived with them, the disciples, after he had risen. He told them of the work that God does, the big chief.”
Chichimeca-Jonaz: “They saw Jesus; he appeared to them all alive after he had suffered and died. He did many things to show that it was true that he was really alive. They saw him repeatedly, he appeared to them until it completed 40 days, and always he was telling them what it is like where God rules.” (Source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:19:
Uma: “I show you amazing things in the sky, and amazing signs on the world also. There will be blood and fire and billowing smoke.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “And I will show what-causes-amazement/wonder up in the sky, and signs here in the world: blood and fire and thick smoke.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And there will be amazing signs which I will show in the heavens and here also on the earth. Blood will be seen and fire and a great amount of smoke.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “In-the-future indeed (prophetic formula) I will show something up above (i.e. in the sky) that is amazing. Even on the land, I will show signs which are blood, fire and fearful/terrible smoke.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “And I will cause to be seen signs which are amazing things which will be seen in the sky and here in the world. There will be blood, fire and thick smoke seen.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Teutila Cuicatec: “I will perform miracles in the sky. I will make omens on the earth; blood and fire and smoke which will be omens on the earth.”
Chuj: “I will show some things in the sky; people’s abdomens will be lost because of them. I will also show some other things which show my power in the world. These things are blood with fire and smoke.”
Chichimeca-Jonaz: “And I am going to show you great works up there in the sky so that your hearts will be puzzled. And I am going to show you big signs down there on the earth, signs that I have my power. Truly, blood with fire and with smoke like a cloud, those are the signs.” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:41:
Uma: “Many were the people that believed Petrus’s words, and they were baptized as/becoming followers of Yesus. On that day, the amount of people who believed in Yesus, was-added-to by about three thousand.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Many believed what Petros said and they were bathed/baptized as a sign that they now trusted in Isa. That day more or less three thousand people were added to the ones trusting in Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then many believed that which Peter caused them to understand, and they had themselves baptized. And on that day the believers were increased by three thousand.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “And many believed/obeyed what he was saying and they got-baptized. The number of those who-were-added to them who believed on that day, it was about three thousand.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well, without anything further, those who believed/obeyed that which he had said had themselves baptized. That day, three thousand was the number of those who were added to the believers in Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chichimeca-Jonaz. “So like that, they who believed his saying they went and were baptized and that one-and-the-same day many, like 3000 people, entered and joined with them.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:47:
Uma: “They continued praising God, and all people/crowds were glad about them. Every day the Lord added-to their number; its meaning, every day there were more-and-more people who believed in the Lord Yesus and [lit., until] were lifted from the punishment of their sins.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “They always praised God and all the people respected them. And every day there were people who newly trusted in Isa being added to them by God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they praised God and everybody respected them. And everyday at that time there were people who believed. And all of them, God set them free so that they would no longer be punished by him, and those were added to the believers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “They were praising God continually, and all the people acknowledged-with-respect their good behavior. Every-day also those whom God was saving were joining/being-added to them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “They were always praising God, and they were highly-spoken-of by people who hadn’t yet believed. Really every day there were those being graced with salvation by God, whom he was adding to those believers.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Lalana Chinantec: “They worshipped God. All of the townspeople spoke well with regard to those people. Every day the Lord made there to be more people who were saved. They joined with the people of Jesus.”
Eastern Highland Otomi: “And the believers glorified God and all the people had respect for them and God caused that day by day more believers walked with them.”
Chichimeca-Jonaz: “They were telling that God did them good he helped them and they pleased the hearts of all the people. Also always each day he who is Chief gradually was gathering and joining those who were being saved with the others who were already believing and meeting together.”
Teutila Cuicatec: “They would praise God and the townspeople respected them. Day by day our Lord God was saving some from among the townspeople and causing them to join them.”
Desano: “Thus making God happy and saying that he is good, they lived in peace with the people. God added to the group which was close to him many more whom he was saving well.” (Source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 3:12:
Uma: “When Petrus saw those many people, he said to them: ‘My Israel relatives! Why are you surprised seeing what has happened here? What do you keep looking at us (excl.) for? Do you think/say that the reason this person is walking is because we (excl.) have power, or from the holiness of our (excl.) hearts? Indeed not!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “When Petros saw the people, he spoke to them. He said, ‘O people of Isra’il. Why do you wonder about us (excl.)? And why do you stare at us (excl.)? Do you think-mistakenly it is our (excl.) power that has caused this man to walk, or that’s the reason he is able to walk, because our (excl.) livers are holy/clean? It’s not.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when Peter saw this, he said to the people, ‘My companions, descendants of Israel, why are you so surprised? Why are you looking at us? Perhaps you suppose that it was through our own power or because of the fact that we don’t have any sin that we cured this person so that he could walk.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “When Pedro saw them, he said, ‘My companions who are Israel’s descendants, why are you amazed at that? Why are you staring-at-us? Is-it-indeed-the-case (incredulous RQ) that our power or goodness was what-made-this man-walk?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When Pedro observed, he said to them, ‘My fellow-countrymen descendants of Israel, why are you amazed at what has happened to this person? And why are you staring like that at us (excl.), as if he had been made able to walk through the strength of our (excl.) own knowledge/aquired-skill or (our) obeying of the will of God?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Chichimeca-Jonaz: “When Peter saw many gathering together, he addressed the people, he told them: ‘You Israelites who are relatives of mine, why are you thinking it over inside because of what you saw happen and why are you looking so hard at us as if it were that we alone by our strength had caused that this person went to walking? Maybe you all think he got well because we are so holy.'” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the congregation of the disciples).
Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff. and Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.
W. R. Hutton (see The Bible Translator April 1953, p. 86ff. ) who worked on the translation into Karbi says this: “In Acts 6:3 a matter of church government comes up. The Revised Standard Version has ‘whom we may appoint to this duty.’ Does the ‘we’ include those who do the picking in the first place as well as the Apostles? It is very likely the answers here will diverge along the lines of church polity and Baptists give one answer and Church of England folk another. It would be convenient not to have to take sides in a translation but for those of us who have an inclusive and an exclusive ‘we’ a decision has to be made.”
