Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Colossians 1:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Colossians 1:17:

  • Uma: “Before there was anything, he was already there. And all that there is he controls and cares-for with his power.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When there was not yet anything created, beforehand already Almasi (existed) and all (things) that were created do not move/change because he rules/holds them.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And another reason why the Son of God is high is because He existed before anything was created. And because He is the one who controls all creation,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Before even anything existed, he already-existed, and he of course is the one who is responsible/in-charge-of all that exists so that they are organized/in-harmony.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “He is/was before all things and under his control they continue without changing and they are following whatever course he has determined for them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Christ was already living when the things which exist were not yet existing. And what we see existing now, it is Christ who causes that they continue to exist.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 16:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 16:31:

  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘Do you really believe now?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa said to them, ‘Really, you really believe now in me?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said to them, ‘So now you believe do you?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘You admittedly believe now,’ said Jesus in reply,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘So then,’ said Jesus, ‘do you believe now?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Then Jesus said, ‘Now you believe in me.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Matthew 25:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 25:24:

  • Uma: “‘After that, the ordered-one who had gotten a thousand arrived too, he said: ‘Noble, I knew you (sing.) were mean/strict. You (sing.) reap what is not your (sing.) planted-thing, you (sing.) get what you (sing.) did not work-hard-for.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then the one servant who had been given one thousand pesos also went and he said, ‘Sir, I know that you have no pity/mercy on people. You take what is not yours and you harvest what you have not worked for.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the servant to whom he had given a thousand went there also. He said, ‘Chief, I know that you have no pity because you harvest what you did not plant, and you get gain from what you do not invest.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘After that the one who was entrusted with only-one talent went and said, ‘Sir, I know that you (sing.) are a cruel/harsh/unyielding person. You (sing.) are taking what you (sing.) didn’t work-for (lit. tire-for) and you (sing.) also are harvesting what you (sing.) didn’t plant.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That one left in charge of one thousand also handed-over. He said, ‘Master, I know that you are strict. You harvest what it wasn’t you who put-in-the-hard-work. You take profit on what it wasn’t you who persevered.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “At the last there arrived the worker to whom he had given one thousand monies. He said to the boss: ‘Listen, boss, I know that you speak strongly. You ask for what you haven’t gained. You harvest where you haven’t worked.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Colossians 2:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Colossians 2:20:

  • Uma: “We who believe in Kristus, we can say that we died together with Kristus. For from our connection with Kristus we are released from the customs and laws that are in this world, we no longer follow those customs and laws to try to become straight in God’s sight. So, because we did die together with Kristus, let’s not keep on submitting to those many kinds of rules, like people who are not yet released from those rules.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “You, because of your trust in Almasi, it is as if you have followed him dying/died together with him and you no longer follow/obey the teachings of humans. Therefore, why is your conduct as if you yet follow/obey the commands of people who are against God? Why do you follow when they say,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “So, brothers, since it is like we (incl.) died along with Christ and we can no longer be controlled by incorrect doctrines, it’s necessary that you no longer obey the rules of people who are God’s enemies. These are commands made by mere people. They say that there are goods which God will not allow us to eat, and He won’t even allow us to touch or taste them. Brethren, don’t you obey things like this, for there is no value in their restrictions, because if we eat food, it’s just removed (no longer exists).” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “You who believe, on-account-of your joining in dying in Cristo’s dying, you were set-free from the commands on this earth. Why then are you still following the customs/behavior of worldly people? Why are you obeying their commands like these:” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Consider that you like died as a companion of Cristo. You are not under the control of the teachings that are just in accord with the shallow perceptions of the world. Well then why are you like living again your former lifestyle for you are again submitting to those teachings which say,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You must reckon that when Christ died, also you died, and now you have departed from the things which the people here on earth decide for themselves. Why is it that you think that their words continue to have force? Because you still want to continue to do the customs followed by these people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 18:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 18:4:

  • Uma: “Yesus knew all that had to happen to himself. That is why he went to meet those people, and he asked them: ‘Who are you looking for?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa knew all that was soon going to happen to him therefore he went to meet them and he said, ‘Whom are you looking for?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Jesus, since he already knew everything that was going to happen to him, he went to meet them and he asked, ‘Who are you looking for?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Since Jesus knew all that would happen to him, he went to meet them and said, ‘Who are you looking-for?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus knew already all which would happen to him, therefore he met them and asked, saying, ‘Who are you looking for?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But Jesus knew all that he was to pass through. He went to meet them and asked, ‘Whom are you looking for?'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Matthew 26:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 26:10:

  • Uma: “Yesus knew their thoughts, so he said to them: ‘Why do you make this woman’s heart hurt! What she has done to me is good.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa knew their talking and he said, ‘Why do you trouble her? What she did to me is good.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus knew what they said, and he said, ‘Leave that woman alone. Very beautiful and good is what she did to me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But Jesus knew what they were saying and he said, ‘Leave-her-alone! Why are you hardshipping her? What she did to me was very-good!” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “What those disciples were murmuring about wasn’t hidden from Jesus. That’s why he said, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? That which she did to me was really good.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus knew what his learners had said, so he said: ‘Don’t be angry with this woman here, because it is good what she did for me.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Colossians 4:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Colossians 4:4:

  • Uma: “So, please pray for me, that I may make-clear the News of Kristus like is appropriate.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore ask God that he help me so that I can make really clear my teaching/preaching (usihat) about Almasi so that the ones who listen will really understand.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Pray also that I may be helped by God so that I might be able to preach this word in a proper way.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Pray-for-me then that I will be-able to properly make-it-clear, because that is the right-thing I should do.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But even though it’s like that, pray that I will be able to teach clearly, according to what I ought to do.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Pray to God for me that he will teach me how to apply the word I speak. Because it is necessary that I clearly explain this word.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 18:36)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 18:36:

  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “And Jesus answered him: ‘I do not rule here in this world. If it were that way, my men would have defended me when the Israelites took me prisoner. I do not rule here.'”
  • Ojitlán Chinantec: “So Jesus told Pilate, ‘I am a king, but not like the kings of the world people. If I were like the kings of the world people, my subjects would have fought to keep me from being delivered into the hands of the Jews. But the world people did not make me king.'”
  • Aguaruna: “When he said that, Jesus answering said, ‘This world here is not my ruling place. If I were a chief from here, my ruled ones would fight with the Jews, and by doing so would have kept them from seizing me, and bringing me to you. However, I am not from here.'” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If for example I were really a king in this world, the people who follow me would definitely fight so that I not be arrested and given to the Yahudi rulers. But my kingdom is not from this world.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa answered, he said, ‘My kingdom is not here in the world. If my kingdom were here in the world my disciples/adherents would fight so that I would not be arrested by the leaders of the Yahudi. Yes, my kingdom is not here in this world.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus answered, ‘My power to rule does not come from here on the earth. If it did come from here, my subjects would have fought so that the Jews might not arrest me. However, my power to rule does not come from here on the earth.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Jesus answered then and said, ‘My rulership, it is distinct from the rulers of this world. Because if I were a king in this world, my people would have quarreled/fought-with those who are Jews so that they wouldn’t have arrested-me. But the truth of it is, it isn’t this world that is the origin of my rulership.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied saying, ‘As for my kingship, it’s not like kingships here under the heavens. If supposing my kingship was like that, of course I would be stood-up-for by my men/personnel. Of course I wouldn’t so-easily have been handed over by these Judio. But well, the origin of my kingship is very different.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘Where I rule is not here on the earth. If it were here, I would have those who would fight in order that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But there where I rule isn’t here.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)