Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Luke 15:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 15:19:

  • Noongar: “I have been very bad. You must not call me your son. But you must put me like your servants and pay me for working.”” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “I am no longer fit for you (sing.) to call your (sing.) child, Father. It is better that you (sing.) consider me just your (sing.) slave.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I am no longer worthy to be called your child. Consider me now just like one of your servants.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I’m no longer worthy that you think of me anymore as your son, but rather, just think of me as one of your servants.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I am admittedly not worthy to be counted as your (sing.) child, but if it could be possible, I will please join-in-working for you (sing.).'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It really is no longer possible/acceptable that you still call me your son. Regard me just as one of your paid-workers.”” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Revelation 22:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 22:5:

  • Uma: “There was no longer night, and the contents of that village did not need lamps or the shining of the sun, because God himself shone-on them. They ruled as kings forever.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There will be no night and they no longer need a lamp or the light of the sun because God, the Lord, is their light. And they will reign forever.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There is no night there, and there is no longer any need for a lamp or the light of the sun, for their lamp is the Lord God of all, and they will rule forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It will not again become-night, and they won’t need lights and the sun, because the Lord God will be illuminating them. And they will rule-with him forever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There really is no more night there, therefore they have no more need of lamps. They also no longer need the light of the sun for God is the one who will light them. And they will now reign with a kingship which has no ending.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There in the city there is no night. The people who live there have no need for lamps to light their way. Neither do they need the sun to give light. Because God is the one who gives light for the people. And these people who live there will rule forever.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Romans 16:27)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 16:27:

  • Uma: “He is the God who knows all, he has no second! Praise him in the name of Yesus Kristus forever. Amin.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “God is only one and he only is really wise (has deep knowledge). Because of Isa Almasi we (incl.) praise God forever. Amin. Wassalam” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the only God who’s the one who knows everything, may He be praised forever by means of Jesus Christ.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Only he is wise in everything. May he be praised forever because of Jesu Cristo. Amen.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning God, only he has wisdom. And because of Jesus Christ God is praised forever. Amen.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “Only God knows everything. Since we have confidence in Jesus Christ our chief, let’s make God great forever. Amen.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Luke 16:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 16:19:

  • Noongar: “‘A man had much money. He wore beautiful clothes every day, and he ate and drank everything he wanted.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘There was a rich man. His clothes were like the clothes of a king, all of them were expensive. His everyday life was like a person-having-a-feast.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then Isa said, ‘There was a rich man who always dressed in very expensive clothes and every day his food was only good. He had nothing lacking.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus spoke again, ‘There was a man who was very rich, and this rich man was dressed in very expensive cloth, and every day he only ate those things which were very expensive and very delicious.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then Jesus related-a-story and said, ‘There was a rich-man who wore the most-expensive clothes and was always giving-feasts and making-merry.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus also included in his teaching this illustration of his which was like this. He said, ‘There was a rich person whose clothes were wholly of first-class material, and well, because he was rich, he really had-as-much-as-he-wanted of good foods every day.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (1 Corinthians 2:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 2:1:

  • Uma: “Relatives, when I arrived at your village announcing the news from God, I didn’t speak to you with soothing words or following my own cleverness.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Now, I my brothers, when I first came to you to tell you the good news from God, I did not use deep words or the speech/words of those with high/extensive learning.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for me, brothers, when I first arrive here to you, when I preached to you about God, I did not use wisdom or skill in speaking, or a reason that had been devised by just people.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for me brothers, in my going there (near addressee) to preach what God made-known concerning Cristo, I didn’t use deep words or fancy ways-of-expressing-them and neither did I speak-about the wisdom of people.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Just like that, my siblings in believing, when I went to you to teach the words of God which he has now made known, I did not teach with deep/profound talk or from the height of great education.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen my brothers, when I went to where you live to tell you the word of God, I did not speak the words which are spoken by people who say they are knowers of words. Neither did I speak words which are beautiful to hear.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 17:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 17:20:

  • Noongar: “Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of God doesn’t come in a way that eyes can see.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Several Parisi people asked Yesus, when God would come be King in the world. Yesus said: ‘The Kingdom of God does not start with visible signs.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “One day the Pariseo asked Isa as to when God would rule over his people. He answered them he said, ‘There is nothing to be seen when God starts his ruling.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “One day at that time there were some Pharisees who asked Jesus, ‘When will take place that ruling of God over people, that you have been talking about?’ And Jesus answered, ‘People will not be able to see its fulfillment.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “On one-occasion there were some Pharisees who went to ask Jesus when the beginning of God’s ruling would be. Jesus said, ‘There is no sign that will show when the beginning of God’s ruling will be.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Once Jesus was asked by the (pl.) Pariseo when the kingdom of God would be set up. Jesus replied, ‘His kingdom won’t be seen with the eye when it comes.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Gurung: (combined with verse 21 “Eye cannot see when God will rule. People will not say “Look, the kingdom of God is here!” or “There it is!” because the kingdom of God is right now in front of you. Seeing the deeds God is doing through me you can understand that God is king.” (Source: Warren Glover in The Bible Translator 1978, p. 231ff.)

complete verse (1 Corinthians 3:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 3:17:

  • Uma: “Anyone who destroys the harmony/unity of the people of God, God will also punish him. For the dwelling-place of God is holy [emphatic]. And you, relatives, are the dwelling-place of God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore if a person destroys God’s dwelling place, that person will really be destroyed by God. Because God’s dwelling place is holy. And you are his dwelling place.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is a person who destroys the place where God lives, God will punish him because the people where He lives are very precious to God, and you are that place where He lives.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore if someone destroys God’s temple, God will also destroy him. Because God’s temple is set-apart for him, and it is indeed you who are that temple.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “God will unhesitatingly punish the one who destroys this house of his. Because this house is far-from-ordinary, for it really is God’s house, by which is meant none other than you who are his people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If someone should spoil God’s church, God will punish that person. Because God’s church is holy. Therefore the teacher who spoils the work of God where you live will be punished.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 18:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 18:15:

  • Noongar: “People brought their children to Jesus to lay his hands on them. Jesus’ disciples saw them and told them off because they did that,” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “One time, there were people who brought their babies to Yesus for him to lay-hands-on and bless them. Seeing that, his disciples were angry, being angry at those who brought their children.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, there were people who brought their small children to Isa so that he would touch them. When his disciples saw this they were scolded by them.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And on another day there were some people who brought their little children to Jesus, so that he might place his palms on them and bless them. And the disciples of Jesus, they told these people not to do that.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “On one-occasion there were those who took their children to Jesus so that he would lay-his-hands-on (them) and bless them. When his disciples then saw it, they forbid (them).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “One day there were some people who brought little children, including babies, to Jesus, so that they would be prayed for with hand-placed-on-them. But when the disciples saw, they rebuked them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)