Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 17:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 17:19:

  • Uma: “That is why they took him to a big meeting-place called Areopagus Mountain, they said to him: ‘We(excl.) want to hear that new teaching of yours.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then they brought Paul to the council which gathered in a place called Areopagus. They said to Paul, ‘We (excl.) want to know about that new teaching which you were talking about.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they brought Paul in front of the judgment place which is called Areopagus, and they said to him, ‘We would like to know this new teaching that you are preaching.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, they took him to the gathering of the elders and leaders of the town that they called Areopagus, and they said to him, ‘If possible, would you (sing.) please make-known to us (excl.) the new-thing you (sing.) are teaching,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That’s why they caused him to accompany them to their meeting-place which was called Areopago, that being the meeting-place of the highest judges in Atenas. Those ones causing Pablo to accompany said, ‘Please, we (excl.) want you to explain this which you are teaching for it’s the first we (excl.) have heard of it.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 14:64)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 14:64:

  • Uma: “You yourselves have heard his words belittling God. What [lit., How] is your decision?’ The decision of all of them was the same, they said: ‘He is certainly guilty, he must be punished by death!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “You have heard already what he said, as if he is God. What is your judgment?’ They all said, ‘Our (excl.) judgment is that he should be killed.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “you have heard his words of great transgression against God. What is your judgment?’ And then all of his companions said that Jesus’ sin was large and it was necessary to kill him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Here we have emphatically heard what he said to make-himself -equal to God! What is your thinking about this?’ And they all condemned him to die.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For you have all heard this which he said which is his making himself the same as God. Well now, what sentence/decision will you give?’ The decision of them all was that what was really fitting for him was to be killed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (James 2:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of James 2:6:

  • Uma: “Yet if our words to the visitors are like that earlier, it’s like we are actually disparaging our poor companions. Yet who it is who usually persecutes you and accuses you to the village elders? The rich people!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But you put-down/despise the poor people. Who is it that causes you difficulties and drags you to the judges? Isn’t it the rich ones?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But as for you, by contrast, you have no respect for that poor person. Who is it that looks down on you? It is the rich people. And who accuse you before the judge?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But as for you, you look-down-on the poor. Who do-you-suppose are the ones who hardship you and bring-charges-against you if not the rich?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But you are just insulting/belittling the poor. Isn’t it so that these rich ones are the ones who cause you hardship? Isn’t it so that they are always bringing charges against you?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But you cause the poor people to be ashamed. Don’t you know that it is the rich people who exploit you? When you don’t do what they command you to do, you are arrested and taken to be judged.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Acts 18:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 18:17:

  • Uma: “Outside the deciding house, the crowd caught Sostenes, a leader of the house of prayer, and beat him. But Galio did not pay attention to what they did.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then the people seized Sostenes, the leader of the Yahudi prayer-house and they beat (lit. inflicted-pain) him there in front of the judgment house (lit. house where judging is done). But the Governor Galliyo didn’t do anything about it.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the Gentiles there, they grabbed Sosthenes, the head of the church of the Jews, and they beat him up there near the court. In spite of that, Gallio paid no attention to it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That being so, the Gentiles who were watching, they grabbed Sostenes the leader of the synagogue and whipped him in the yard of the court, but Gallio, he ignored/let-them -be.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, they switched to arresting Sosthenes, another overseer of their worship-place, and then they kept on beating him outside that judging house. But Galion paid no attention to that which they did.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 15:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 15:24:

  • Uma: “After that, the soldiers crucified him, and they divided up his clothes by casting dice as their way-of-determining who would get them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then they nailed him already onto the post and erected the post. The soldiers divided the clothes of Isa among themselves. They threw dice for-competition so that they would know which clothes each one would win.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then they nailed him to a cross. They divided up his clothes, and they cast lots to see what each one would get.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then they nailed him to the cross. After-that they drew-lots to divide-up his clothes in order to see what each of them would win (lit. land-on).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, they then nailed Jesus to a cross. And then what they did was they divided up his clothes, after drawing lots so that it would be known what would go to each person.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (James 3:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of James 3:12:

  • Uma: “An ara tree doesn’t bear zaitun fruit. And an anggur tree doesn’t bear ara fruit. A salty well doesn’t bring-forth plain/clear water.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My brothers, the mampallam tree does it bear guava? And a vine does it bear mampallam? No. Likewise you (sing.) cannot draw good water from a well full of stale water. Likewise we (incl.) also our (incl.) speech/words should be good only, no bad speech/words should be mixed in.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Brothers, when a fig tree bears fruit, it is not possible that its fruit is olives. And when a grapevine bears fruit, it is not possible that its fruit is figs. If there is a well from which bitter water comes, it is not possible that water which is not bitter comes from there.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Neither is there any fig (loan igos) that fruits olives (loan olivo), and neither also is there a grape (loan obas) trunk/base that fruits figs. Neither also is the ocean the source of good (i.e. drinkable) water. That’s what our tongues should follow-the-example-of so that good and bad speech are not mixed-together.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My siblings in believing, an igos really doesn’t bear olibo fruit, neither does an ubas bear igos fruit. And also one can’t draw fresh (lit. tasteless) water from the sea.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Dear brethren, a tree of figs cannot produce fruit called olive. A vine of grapes cannot produce the fig. Where there comes up bad water, there cannot come up good water.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Acts 19:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 19:21:

  • Uma: “When that happening had passed, Paulus planned to go to the provinces of Makedonia and Akhaya, and after that he wanted to go to the town of Yerusalem. He also said: ‘After I have been to Yerusalem [lit., After I am from Yerusalem], I have to go to the town of Roma.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “After that, Paul planned to go also to the land of Makedoniya and Akaya and then he would proceed to Awrusalam. ‘When I have been to Awrusalam,’ he said, ‘I must also go to Roma.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then Paul decided that he would leave and go to the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. He said, ‘When I go to Jerusalem, I will continue on to the town of Rome.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, Pablo decided to walk-through the provinces Macedonia and Akaya to go to Jerusalem. He also said that when that was finished, he needed to go visit in Roma.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, Pablo then decided to travel again, going again to Macedonia and Acaya, and then to continue on to Jerusalem. He said, ‘After I’ve stayed-a-short-time/overnighted there in Jerusalem, it’s necessary that I then go to Roma.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 16:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 16:9:

  • Uma: “When Yesus arose from the dead very early on Sunday, first he made himself appear to Maria Magdalena. This Maria, Yesus had once expelled seven demons that possessed her.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When Isa was alive again from his death on that Sunday, he first appeared to Mariyam the woman from Magdala, the one from whom he had driven out seven demons.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In the very early morning on Sunday when Jesus was already raised from the dead, he appeard first to Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he drove away seven demons.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When it was dawning on Sunday was when Jesus came-to-life again. Upon his coming-to-life again, he first appeared (lit. preceded-to appear) to Maria Magdalena from-whom-he-had-caused-to-leave seven evil-spirits.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When it was fully Sunday morning, when Jesus had come alive again, the very-first he went-to-see/meet was Maria Magdalena. (Can’t use ‘showed himself to’ because that’s what only evil spirits do to scare people.) As for that woman, seven evil spirits had been driven out of her by Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)