Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Luke 5:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 5:7:

  • Noongar: “When Simon Peter saw what happened, he knelt in front of Jesus and he said, ‘You go away from me, Lord! I am a sinful man!'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “They signaled/beckoned to their friends in the other boat to come help. They really came, and they filled both boats until they almost sank, carried by the weight.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They motioned to their companions in another boat telling them to come and help pulling it. They went there and filled the fish into the boat. Both boats were filled with fish therefore they almost sank.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they waved to their companions there in the other boat, that they should help them. And when their companions arrived, they put the fish in the two boats and the boats almost sank because they were so full.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So they signaled to their companions in another boat to come and help them. When they came then, they filled the two boats with fish and they were close to sinking.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “They waved/beckonned to their companions in the other boat causing them to help. Those two boats were loaded-to-capacity to almost sinking.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (1 John 3:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 3:16:

  • Uma: “This is a sign so that we know what is called love: Yesus gave his life so that we could have salvation/goodness. So, we also must give our lives to help our relatives.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (incl.) know what true love is like, for Almasi, because of his love for us (incl.) submitted/surrendered his life and he died taking away our (incl.) sins. Therefore we (incl.) also should submit/surrender even our (dual) lives for our (incl.) fellow-men.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason we know that God loves us (incl.) very much is because Jesus allowed himself to be killed as our substitute. And as for us (incl.) also, it is necessary that we help our companions who are believers even if that help is the means of our death.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The way-we -know the nature/likeness of true love, Jesu Cristo gave his life for us. Therefore we also, we should be prepared to give our lives for our siblings/cousins (from here on, brothers).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Consider this, that as for Jesu-Cristo, he even gave his life/breath just because of us so that we would be saved/freed. Therein we can now comprehend what is meant by true valuing. Therefore as for us, it’s necessary for us also to help our siblings in believing, even though it could lead to our life/breath being severed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Christ has shown us what it means to love a fellowman in that he gave himself to die for us. Also we must do this, when it is necessary to die for our brethren, let it be done.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “We know that Christ loves us because he gave his life dying for us, and we know likewise we must love our fellows. If it is necessary we must forsake ourselves and die to help our fellows.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Christ showed us what it is that is really love, in that he delivered up his own life in regard to us. And we will do the same, in that we will love our siblings, we won’t be afraid to help them, even though we die.”
  • Tzotzil: “Thus we know that Jesus Christ loves us because he gave himself to be killed on our account. Thus we also, it needs that we give ourselves to be killed on account of the brethren.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “Jesus did not withhold His own death, He died for us. By that fact we know (come to the knowledge of) love. Therefore He says to us, ‘Don’t withhold your death for your brothers (don’t be unwilling to die…).'”
  • Yanesha’: “Here, therein we know love how it is how that his son Christ let go of himself thus will he die for us. We, too, now it is fitting that we let go of ourselves thus will we die for our countrymen.”
  • Aguaruna: “Christ took-death (sacrificially die for someone, or take punishment for someone) for us, therefore we know love. Therefore we also are able to take-death (or punishment) for our brother.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (Acts 27:16)

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

  • Uma: “Not long from there, we were sheltered somewhat from the wind in our passing to the south side of a island called Kauda. At that time, we pulled up the little boat that is usually pulled behind the ship (that is called sekoci). That work was very hard.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Eventually we (excl.) were able-to-take-shelter on-the-other-side of Kauda island, a small island. And there, even though we (excl.) had difficulty, we (excl.) were able to fasten-tightly the lifeboat that had been towed.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when we came near to the island of Cauda, we were somewhat sheltered from the wind, and there, with much difficulty, we were able to get a hold of the boat which the ship was pulling.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When we (excl.) went-close-by the small town of (lit. at) Cauda, we (excl.) put-on-board the small-boat that the ship was-pulling, because we (excl.) were sheltered a little-bit, but we (excl.) had-a-hard-time anyway.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When we got to the other side of the little-island called Clauda, it was a little bit sheltered. Therefore we persevered at pulling up the tender which was being towed behind.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 5:39)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 5:39:

  • Noongar: “And people don’t want new liquor after they drink old liquor. They say, ‘The old liquor is better!”” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘No-one wants to drink new wine if he has finished drinking the old. Because he will say: ‘It is old wine that is delicious.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “A person who is used to drinking grape water which has been stored for a long time does not look for new grape water. He says the taste of long stored grape water is good.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And that person who drinks the old wine, he will not drink the wine which has just been made because he says, ‘The old wine is what is good.’ ‘” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Another-thing yet, the one who has become accustomed to drinking mature grape juice, he doesn’t-want to taste the not-yet-mature, because he says/thinks that the mature (wine) that he is accustomed to is tastier.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But well, no-one wants to drink this new drink if he has drunk that which was stored for a long time, because what he says is, ‘This matured one is better.”” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (1 John 5:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:3:

  • Uma: “For if we love God, its meaning, we follow his command(s). Yet his command(s) is/are not difficult to follow.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The meaning of loving God is, one should follow/obey his commandments. And it is not difficult to follow/obey his commands,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Our true love for God is our obeying His commands, and His commands are not hard to obey” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because the way we love God, it’s our obeying his commands. And his commands, they aren’t difficult to obey,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This is what is meant by our holding God dear, we are obedient to his commands. Because as for these commands of his, they are not excessively heavy.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because the person who loves God is one who does all that God commands. And what all God commands, he does not look upon as being hard, rather he does it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we love God we will do what he commands. And what he commands is not difficult for us to do.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “If we really love (esteem) God, we will do as he says. And his Word isn’t difficult.”
  • Tzotzil: “Because if we love God, we obey his commands. His commands are good. They are like a load that we do not find heavy.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “If we really love God then we will keep that which God ordered. God’s orders never bother us.”
  • Yanesha’: “This is how we love our Father; we reserve in remembrance his put word. His put word does not make it hard for us.”
  • Aguaruna: “If we truly love God we will obey His word. His word, obeying it, it is not difficult.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (Acts 28:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:4:

  • Uma: “When the townspeople saw the snake hanging on Paulus’ hand, they said: ‘This man must be a murderer! Just look, although he did not die in the sea earlier, but the Anitu who Weighs/Judges will not let him live.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When the people of that island saw the snake fastened on Paul’s hand, they spoke-among-themselves. They said, ‘This man really has killed. Even though he has escaped from the sea, yet his fate could not be postponed/put-off. Just the same he will die.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when the people who were inhabitants there saw the snake hanging on the hand of Paul, they said to each other, ‘So, he is a murderer, because why was he not able to avoid his punishment? Because even though he wasn’t drowned in the sea, he’s going to die just the same.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When the inhabitants saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said-to-each-other, ‘Obviously of-course he is a murderer, because even though he escaped/survived the ocean, an unseen-one (i.e. god) has punished-him just the same, because there-now the snake has replaced (the ocean).'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When the people from there saw that deadly snake which had wound around Pablo’s hand/arm, they said, ‘Ah, this person really is a murderer of his fellowman. For look at this, even though he got free from the sea, he won’t indeed be allowed to live for he can’t run away from being punished-by-the-supernatural.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 6:32)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 6:32:

  • Noongar: “If you love people, only if they love you, why will you be praised? Bad people love people if they love them!” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘If we love only the people who love use, God will not bless us. Even people whose actions are evil, they love people who love them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘If you only love those who love you, is there anything to praise you for? No. For even the sinful people certainly love those who love them.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Don’t you think that God will reward you if the only people you like are those who like you also. For even the transgressor people, they like also the people who like them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘If it’s only those who love you that you love, will you be rewarded do-you-suppose? Even sinful people, they of course love those who love them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For if only those who value you are valued by you, what more reward are you waiting for? For even sinners value those who value them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (3 John 1:1)

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

  • Uma: “This letter is from me the Elder, I send it to my friend Gayus, whom I truly love.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This letter/writing is from me the Elder of the trusters in Isa Almasi, I send this to you Gayus, my friend whom I love.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for me the old person, I write to you, Gaius, my friend whom I hold very dear.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My esteemed Gaius, I who have written this, it’s Juan who is a leader of the believers. My love for you (sing.) who are my friend is from-the-heart. May your (sing.) life there be good and your (sing.) body also be strong like the strength of your (sing.) faith.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My friend Gayo whom I truly hold dear, there-with-you is my letter, I who am the senior-elder.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I lead in relation to God’s word, I greet you my dear friend Gayo. I truly love you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “I in my old age am writing to you dear Gayo. Truly I love you.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “I am the Old-Man Leader, I am sending this paper to you, dear Gaius, loved one. And also I love you in regards to the true Word which we (dual) believe.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “I am an old man. I am writing this letter to a friend of mine, (whose) name is Gayo, whom I truly love.”
  • Garifuna: “I, an elderly person, write to my friend the one named Gayo (necessary to avoid the connotation of writing to a rooster), the one whom I love. I love you with all my heart (genuine love).” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)