Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 27:27)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 27:27:

  • Uma: “[After] a complete fourteen nights, our ship was still being blown along by the big wind on the Adria Sea. About the middle of the night the workers of the ship sensed/heard like the ship was close to land.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “On the fourteenth night since the start of that storm, we (excl.) were still there on the sea of Adariya carried along by the wind. When it was about the middle of the night, those working on the ship felt that we (excl.) were now near the shore.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then on the fourteenth night of our being carried by the typhoon, we were there in the sea that’s called Mediterranean. And in the middle of the night the people who carry the ship, they thought that perhaps there was some land near us.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When two weeks had gone-by since the beginning of the typhoon, we were still being-blown in the middle of the ocean Adriatic. In the middle of the night, the workers on the ship sensed that we (excl.) were approaching its edge (i.e. of the ocean).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When it was the fourteenth night, and we continued to be driven by the wind on the Adriatico Sea, just at midnight the sailors suspected that there was land near now.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 6:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 6:11:

  • Noongar: “They became very angry and began discussing what they could do to Jesus.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “From there, no kidding the anger of the religion teachers and the Parisi people. That is why they planned, looking for a plan/idea, what they could do to Yesus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But the Pariseo and the teachers of the religious law were very angry therefore they planned as to what they should do to Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law became very angry, and they talked together about what they would do to jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But then their anger was extreme, and they conversed-together as to what they could do to Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Those watching-closely became extremely angry. They discussed what they could do to Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (1 John 5:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:14:

  • Uma: “We are brave to call out to God, for we know that he hears our request, as long as our request is according to his will.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (dual) are not afraid to come close to/approach God, because we (dual) are assured that whatever we (dual) ask of him he will really hear us (dual) if-only/as-long-as our (dual) requests follow his wishes/will.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for us (incl.) who have believed, our faith when we pray to God is big. We (incl.) know that if there is anything that we (incl.) ask for which is not contrary to what He wants, He will give it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “We also have boldness to pray to God, because we know for-sure that whatever we request from him that is in harmony with what he wants, he hears it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And there’s no more need for us to be holding back from approaching him because we are now sure that, whatever we ask for which is in harmony with his will, he really will respond-positively.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When we pray to God now we are brave, because we know for sure that if we ask for something that God wants to give us, then God will pay attention to what we say.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “And we are not afraid to pray before God, because God heeds us so long as what we ask is worthy of our asking him.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “We don’t fear to come near to God, because if what we ask for is in accordance with God’s will, we know that he hears well our word.”
  • Tzotzil: “Because our hearts are the same with God (we are of the same mind as God), thus we are not afraid when we talk to him. We know that he grabs our words.”
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “We rest-the-whole-weight of our hearts on Him. For when we ask for that which He Himself wants He himself hears us.”
  • Yanesha’: “We, from our counting on him, we know that whatever we ask for which he wants, he, always he listens to us.”
  • Aguaruna: “He who asks for what God desires, God will hear him, therefore fearlessly we are those who ask.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
  • Garifuna: “Here is what we know/are sure God will do: If we ask with him as by means of his desire (in accordance with his will), he will hear us.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Acts 28:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:15:

  • Uma: “While we were still on the road, the one-faith relatives in Roma heard that we were almost arriving. That is why they came to meet us at the town called Apius Market and at The Three Inns. When Paulus saw the one-faith relatives from Roma, he said thank you to God and his heart was relieved. [lit., open, clear]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When the disciples of Isa in Roma heard that we (excl.) had arrived, they walked to meet us (excl.) as far as Apiyus Market and the village called/named Three Eateries. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and his liver became firm.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There were some believers there which we found, and they persuaded us that we stay with them for a week. And then we continued walking, going to Rome. When the believers in Rome heard that we were arriving, they met us there in the market of Appio, and there also in the place called the Three Houses of Staying Overnight. And when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and he was filled with hope.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When our (excl.) brothers who believed at Roma heard-reported that we (excl.) were going there, they walked a-long-ways to go meet-us (excl.). Some, they met-us (excl.) at the marketplace at Appius, others, at what was called Three Hotels. Upon Pablo’s seeing them, he thanked God and his mind/thoughts became-strong.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When the believers in Roma heard news that we were arriving, they didn’t mind the distance but came to meet us. Some met us at the town of Foro de Appio. As for others, it was just at the town of Tres Tabernas where they met us. As soon as Pablo saw them, he gave thanks to God and his mind/inner-being again grew strong.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 6:44)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 6:44:

  • Noongar: “People know all trees because of the fruit they bear. You do not pick quondong from thorn bushes. You do not pick kamak berries from mallee trees.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “The goodness of each kind of tree is known by its fruit. Figs are not plucked from thorny vines. Grapes are not plucked from nettles.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “A tree is known by it’s fruit. We (incl.) do not get guavas from a thorn bush (puhung) or lansones from the weed-touch-me-not (sampinit).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Every tree can be identified by means of its fruit. For the banag tree, it does not bear grapes, and the seg`a tree, it does not bear figs.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That which distinguishes every tree is its fruit, because obviously one does not pick guavas from a bamboo or pick grapes from rattan (a thorny vine).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Of course, each tree can be recognized by its fruit. For a sinipit-vine doesn’t bear igos fruit, nor do thorny weeds bear ubas fruit.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

See also figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

complete verse (3 John 1:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:12:

  • Uma: “As for Demetrius [emphatic], all people praise him. He is indeed fit to be praised, for his behavior follows the true teaching. We(excl.), we (excl.) also praise him, and you know that our (excl.) praise is true.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “All people talk well about Demetiri. And because of his good deeds it is also seen that he follows the true teaching. I join in witnessing for him and you know that my witness is true.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “All people praise Demetrius. They can see by means of his acts that he is obeying the true doctrine. We also praise him, and you know that what we say is true.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for Demetrius, what people are saying about him is totally good. His manner-of-life also, it confirms his goodness, because what he is doing is in harmony with the true teaching. We (excl.) also, we (excl.) confirm/recommend him to you, and you (sing.) know that what we (excl.) say is true.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, concerning our brother in believing who is Demetrio, everybody is testifying concerning the good-quality of his work/doing. Because it’s clear from his life that he really is obeying well the true teaching. Well including us (excl.) also, like that too is our (excl.) testimony concerning him, and you know that this which we (excl.) mean is true.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “All the people speak well of Demetrius and it is true what I hear spoken of him. We also give our testimony that he lives good and you all know that it is true when we say something.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Everyone speaks well of Demetrio. It is obvious that he walks with the truth (heeds/obeys it). We (ex) also tell how he does what is good. And you know that we (ex) speak true words.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “All the siblings speak well of Demetrio, and all his deeds are in accord with the true Word. Also I say the same about the man, that he is good. And you know that I speak the truth.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “Everyone praises Demetrio, and we know he follows what is true. We (ex) also praise him, and you know what we (ex) speak is true.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Romans 1:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 1:16:

  • Uma: “I am not ashamed to take/carry the Good News. For the Good News is God’s power to give goodness/salvation to all people who believe. First the Good News was announced to the Jews, but now it is also announced to people who are not Jews.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I really am not ashamed to proclaim the good news about Isa Almasi. Because/for all who believe this good news, beginning with the Yahudi and up to the non-Yahudi, there is the power of God which frees them from their sin.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My trust in the Good News is very big, because if anybody believes in this beginning with Jewish people and extending to non-Jews, he will be freed from punishment by means of the great power of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because I am absolutely not ashamed to tell the good news, because this is the evidence of God’s power to save all who believe. It was made-known first to the Jews, after that to the Gentiles.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I am not ashamed to speak this good news. Because this word walks with the power of God for saving all the people who believe this word. The same for the Jews and those who are not Jew, their lives will be saved upon believing the word.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Central Mazahua: “The good new words of Christ don’t cause me to be ashamed. When people hear through these words, God works powerfully in order that their hearts will be healed, all those who will believe-obey. First will listen-obey, will be healed their hearts the Jews, then those who are not Jews.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Luke 7:27)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 7:27:

  • Noongar: “Because the Scriptures say of this man, John, ‘God says, ‘I will send my messenger before, clearing your path.”” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Because he is the one who prepares the hearts of the people to receive me, like is written in the Holy Book long ago. God said: ‘He is my messenger, I send him ahead of You (sing.), to prepare your (sing.) way/road.”” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Yahiya is hep the person written about in the holy-book, it says there, ‘God says, I tell my messenger to go before you and prepare your way.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because John is the fulfillment of the prophesied, written word of God, because God said there, ‘There is a person I will send. I will send him in front of you that he might make clean your way.’ ‘ Then Jesus spoke again,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because Juan is whom the written word of God is talking about which says, ‘I am sending someone to go-ahead of you (sing.) to prepare the path-you-(sing.)-will-take.’ ‘” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because this Juan is the one referred to in the word of God which is written, which says, ‘It’s true there is someone whom I will send to go ahead of you (sing.), for he will make ready where you will walk.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)