Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 23:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:24:

  • Uma: “After that, that head of the soldiers called two of his warchiefs and said to them: ‘Prepare two hundred regular soldiers and seventy horse-riding soldiers, and two hundred spear-bearing soldiers also. Also prepare a horse [or horses–ambiguous] for Paulus to ride. At nine o’clock tonight you leave for Kaisarea, taking Paulus to Governor Feliks. And guard him well so that nothing happens to him on the way.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Get also horses for Paul to ride on and you bring him to Governor Pilik. Guard him very well so that no danger will befall him on the way.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And get some horses so that Paul can ride on them, and carefully watch him so that nothing happens to him until you get there to Governor Felix.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Have-Pablo -ride-horseback also, and thoroughly/carefully guard him so that nothing bad will happen to him until you arrive-with him to Governor Felix.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Set aside also a horse to have Pablo ride on and take good care of him so that he can get there to the governor Felix without any mishaps.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 3:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 3:9:

  • Noongar: “The axe is ready to cut the roots of the tree. All trees not bearing good fruit, they will be cut and thrown into the fire.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “The punishment of God has almost arrived. His punishment is like an ax that is prepared ahead of time at the foot of a tree. Each tree that does not have good fruit, will definitely be chopped down and thrown into the fire.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “You are figuratively like a tree which is soon going to be cut at the roots. All trees that do not have good fruit are cut down and thrown away into the fire and burned.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The one who chops down trees has raised his ax, because he will chop down any tree and burn it, whose fruit is not good. Which is to say, the person whose custom is not good, God will punish him.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “God’s judging of you, it can be compared to an axe that is poised to cut-down the tree, and all trees that don’t bear-good -fruit will be cut-down at their base in order to then be burned-as-firewood.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For now/today, the ax is raised-for-striking at the root of the standing tree, for every tree which doesn’t fruit well will be axed and then thrown on the fire. Well, punishment like that is now coming close to you.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (2 Peter 2:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Peter 2:15:

  • Uma: “They have wandered off from the true way and followed an evil way. They have followed the way that Bileam son of Beor followed long ago, who coveted the money that he got from his evil deeds.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They have gone off/astray from the straight teaching. That is what they follow, the doings of a certain prophet of old called Bala’am the son of Beyor. This Bala’am was very happy for money/liked money hep, therefore he was willing even to do bad if he only got paid.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Their minds have been led astray for they have departed form the true way. The way which they follow is the evil way of Balaam, son of Bosor, long ago. What was really big in the breath of Balaam was the money he would be paid if what he did was bad.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They have abandoned the straight path and gone-astray, because they are following-as-an-example the behavior of Balaam the son of Bosor who agreed to do evil because of his desire to-be-paid-a-wage.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well since it’s like they went off the trail, they are now far away from the trail/path of truth. For the trail they followed is, they copied Balaam, son of Beor. Long ago that Balaam co-operated in going-on-an-errand to do evil because what really mattered to him was getting paid.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “They are astray, having left the straight road. They do like the lying prophet Balaam, the son of Beor, did. He sinned in order to gain money.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Acts 24:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 24:21:

  • Uma: “Only one word of mine they took-offense-at. While I stood in their midst, when I said loudly like this: ‘The reason I am being examined here, is because I believe that dead people will live again.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because they don’t know of any sin (that I have done) except perhaps while standing before them, I said hep, ‘The reason I am judged/tried by you this moment is because I believe that the dead will be caused to live again.’ ‘” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because there is nothing that they know about except that which I shouted out to them when I said, ‘The only thing that you are accusing me of today is my belief that sometime in the future the dead would be raised.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because while I was there, I raised (lit. made-strong) my voice saying, ‘I believe that the dead will live again. That is the reason why you are trying me today,’ I said only to them there.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “All that I said was, speaking loudly, when I was there in their presence, ‘I am being interrogated today here in your presence because I am sure that God will make alive those who have died.”” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 4:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 4:3:

  • Noongar: “The Devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “The King of Evil-ones said, saying to Yesus: ‘If you (sing.) are really the Child of God, then order that rock to become food!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then the leader of demons said to him, ‘If it is really true that you are God’s son command these stones to become food.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Satan came near to Him and he tested Him. Satan said, ‘If it’s really true that You are the Son of God, by Your power change these stones into food.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon the Diablo said to him, ‘If it’s true that you (sing.) are the Child of God, command this stone to turn-into food.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That’s why Satanas spoke to him, saying, ‘Since you are the Son of God, just speak and cause this stone/rock to become food.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And then the bad man spoke to him like this, ‘If you are God’s Son, talk to/about these stones in order that they become your bread.'” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “He told him, ‘If you are really the Child of God, please turn/change this stone to become food.'” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “Then the malevolent spirit said to Him Himself: ‘If You are definitely Great Above One’s child then command these rocks to become bread tubers [food]!’ said he.” (Source Enggavoter 2004)

complete verse (1 John 1:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 1:7:

  • Uma: “If we walk in the light, like God is in the light, we are in harmony with one another, and he cleans us from all our sins because of the blood of Yesus his Child who died to be our redeemer.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But if our (dual) dwelling is in the light as God is in the light, then we (incl.) all are of one liver, and because of the blood of Isa, the Son of God, all our (dual) sins are taken-away and we (dual) are now clean/holy.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If our way is bright just like God is bright, which is to say, if we have submitted ourselves to God, we have a close relationship to each other, and we are always being cleansed from any of our sins by means of our being annointed with the blood of Jesus, the Son of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if however we remain where it is light/bright as God does, then our companionship with our fellow believers will be good and at-the-same-time all our sins will be being washed on-account-of the blood of Jesus his Child.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But if we are always living in harmony with the light/enlightenment, being far from sin, just like God, for as for him, he is really wholly in the light, our fellowship who are believers in him will really be good. And as for that blood of Jesus his Son which was shed (lit.caused to drip), it cleanses us, because it removes all our sins.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If we live good, just as God does only good, then it is true that we are friends with each other. And all our sins are acquitted because of the blood shed by Jesus Christ.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “God is like light because he does good. And if we also walk doing good, then our head-hearts are just one each of us with the other of us (in). Jesus Christ God’s son, died shed his blood to wash our head-hearts with all our evil.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “But it we are walking in the light, where God is, then the same-way we think, and the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, continually cleans us of all our sins.”
  • Tzotzil: “If all of us walk along in sunlight like God is in the sunlight, therefore one we become for sure. God continually washes out all our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “If we walk in light, if as He Himself does we also do, we fellowship together. As we do that Jesus, God’s child, keeps on cleansing our sins with his blood.”
  • Yanesha’: “But this, if we walk in the light thus like he, he is in the light, we are one, all of us. His blood of of his Son who is Jesus rubs (erases) from us all our sins.”
  • Aguaruna: “But if we walk light-place, the same as he walked, we stay (reciprocally) content (happy) with others. We doing it like that, Jesus, God’s Son, his blood eradicates (erases, washes out), (for our benefit), our sin.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (Acts 25:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:26:

  • Uma: “But I do not-yet have an explanation [lit., straightness] that is fitting for me to write in a letter to Kaisar. So, that is why I now bring him here, especially to King Agripa whom I respect. My intention is that when this examination of ours is over, there will be something that I can write.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But I have no reason to write to the Leader King,’ Pestus said. ‘Therefore I have brought him here to face you (pl.), and especially to you, Sir Agarippa, in order that after you have examined this case, perhaps I may have (something) to write to the Leader King.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But I have nothing to write about him which is worthy of going to our king, therefore I brought him before you (pl.) today and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that I might have something to write after you have investigated him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But I know of nothing proper to write to the Emperor about him. And that is the reason I have brought him before you all, and especially you (sing.) King Agrippa, in order that I will have something to write when we are finished trying him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But well, I don’t know anything which I can write concerning him which is acceptable/possible to send to that master of ours. That’s why today, I am standing him in the presence of all of you, especially before you, respected King, so that when he is interrogated, I will have something to put in the letter which will be sent there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 4:35)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 4:35:

  • Noongar: “Jesus told the evil spirit, ‘No talking! Go out of the man.’ The evil spirit threw down the man in front of them and went away and did not harm him.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Yesus said to that demon: ‘Be quiet! Come out from that person!’ The demon that possessed that person made-him-fall-down in the midst of the people, and he came out, but he did not do anything to him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But Isa scolded the demon. He said, ‘Do not speak. Come out of that person.’ Then the demon hit the person on the ground in the middle of the people and after that he came out of the person and didn’t do anything to the person.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Jesus scolded that demon and He said, ‘You be quiet, and you come out of him.’ And then that demon used his power, so that that person he was afflicting would be dashed down to the ground in the presence of all the people. And he left, and he did not harm that person whom he had afflicted.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then Jesus commanded the evil-spirit saying, ‘You (sing.) be quiet! Leave him.’ Whereupon the evil-spirit violently-shoved-down that man in front of the many-people and after that he left him without hurting him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When Jesus heard, he rebuked him. He said, ‘Stop making all that noise! Leave him now!’ Well, there in front of everyone, the evil spirit caused the man to throw himself down on the ground, and then he left him without any bodily harm.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)