Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 23:32)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:32:

  • Uma: “The next morning the foot soldiers returned to the house of the soldiers, and it was just the horse-riding soldiers who took Paulus on to Kaisarea.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The next day the soldiers on-foot returned to the fort and they left those riding on horses to go on to bring Paul.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And on the next day the soldiers who were walking returned, and the only ones with Paul were the soldiers who were riding on horses.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The next-day then, the soldiers who walked returned to their barracks in Jerusalem while the horse-riders continued to accompany Pablo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There was the limit for some of the soldiers. They then returned to Jerusalem. The only ones who took Pablo to Cesarea were the horsemen.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 3:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 3:17:

  • Noongar: “He brings his dish and he will sift the seed. He will beat all the seeds and gather the good seeds into his grain house. But he will burn the husks in a fire. That fire burns forever.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “He can be compared to a person who winnows rice. He separates the good rice [lit, rice that has contents] from the empty ones until it is clean. The good rice he puts into his granary, the empty he burns in a fire that blazes on forever.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He will separate the good people and the bad people. He is figuratively like a person winnowing rice, he separates the kernels and the chaff. The kernels he will store in the storage-container (a huge basket) but the chaff he will burn with fire which cannot be put out.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Since He is separating the good people and the bad people. He is like the person winnowing rice, who removes the hull from the rice. The rice will put into the storehouse, but the hull, he will burn it with fire which cannot be put out,’ said John.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “He is compared to a person holding a winnowing-basket that he will use-to-winnow the pounded rice. Its meat (lit. fruit), he will go and store it in his house, but as for the husks, he will burn them in the fire that never-goes-out.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “He is the one who will judge the people. For it’s like he is holding his tossing-tool with which he will toss the grain-stalks. He will separate the grain to store in his silo. But the straw, he will throw it on the fire which can never go out till forever.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (2 Peter 3:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Peter 3:1:

  • Uma: “Relatives whom I love! This is my second letter to you. In both of these letters, I have fired up your hear by reminding you of the true teaching, in order that your thinking be holy.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My beloved friends, this is the second time that I write to you. The reason that I write to you is because I want to remind you about what you already know so that your good thoughts will be steadfast.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Dear brothers, this is the second time I have written to you. My purpose in writing to you this second time is: that you might be able to think properly by means of my advice to you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My friends, this is my second letter to you. In these two letters, there is that which I have reminded you of in order that your thoughts will be clean and sincere.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My dear ones, this letter of mine is my second letter to you. And in these two letters I am really striving to remind you of several things awakening you to a good mind/thoughts.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my dear brethren, now this is the second letter I wrote to send to you. In both letters I strongly reminded you of the word which was told to you, because I want you to really think good.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Acts 25:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 25:2:

  • Uma: “When he arrived there, the leading priests and the other Yahudi leaders met him and they said to him their accusations that they accused Paulus of.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When (he was) there in Awrusalam the leading priests and the leaders of the Yahudi went to him bringing their accusations against Paul.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the leaders of the sacrificers and the bosses of the Jews, they told Festus their accusations against Paul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When he arrived there, the leaders of the priests and the leaders of the Jews went to see-him in order to file-charges-against Pablo to him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When he arrived there, the chiefs of the priests and other leaders of the Jews told of nothing other than that they brought up before him their case against Pablo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 4:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 4:11:

  • Noongar: “‘The Scriptures also say, They will grasp you, so your feet do not strike the stones’.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “They hold you (sing.) so that your (sing.) feet do not hit the rocks.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And it is also written it says, ‘The angels will carry you on their hands so that not even your foot will hurt from a stone.’ ‘” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “and they will grab you so that not even your foot will be bruised against a stone.’ ‘” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They will support-you (sing.) -in-their-arms so that your (sing.) foot/leg will not be struck-against a stone.’ ‘” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “and they will support/take-by-the-arms you so that even your foot/leg won’t get stubbed against a rock.”” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also it says, | ‘‘They will lift you up in their hands, | lest a stone stab your foot/leg.’ ‘” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “so that a stone doesn’t make you stumble.’ ‘” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “Then also in the Holy Book it says: ‘Then they themselves will hold you in the palm of their hands so that your foot will not hit a rock!’ it says.’” (Source Enggavoter 2004)

For the Old Testament quote, see Psalm 91:12.

complete verse (1 John 2:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 2:5:

  • Uma: “People who follow God’s words, they are the ones who really love God. This is a sign so that we know that we are in harmony with God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But whoever follows the word/message of God, he is surely the one who loves God. Like this we (dual) can be sure that we (dual) are one with God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But if there is a person who obeys the commands of God, his holding God dear in his breath has been drawn tight. As for the person who says that he has a close relationship with God, it is necessary that his actions be righteous, just like the actions of Jesus were righteous. If this is what we (incl.) do, we know that we have been made one with God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But as for the one who is following the words of God, he is the one whose love for God has no lack/fault. If then there is one who says that he has-joined/been-added-to/belongs to God, he must follow-the-example of Jesu Cristo. And if we do that, that’s how we know for sure that it is true that we have been joined to God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But whoever is able-to-obey completely all the word of God, his holding God dear really is complete. Through this obeying of ours, we may be sure that as for us, we really are in harmony with God, holding fast to being united/tied-together with him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But he who does what God commands, this one truly is one who well knows how to love God. Thus it is apparent that he walks with God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “But we know that we are joined together with God if we do what God says. And when we do just what he says truly we love God as we ought.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “But if one does the Word of God, God hasn’t loved him in vain, but it has turned out well what he has done for the person. Now I will tell you how we will know if we are really living with Christ.”
  • Tzotzil: “If we obey his word, we really and truly love God. Thus we know that we are in his presence, (belong to Him; are in Him).” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Candoshi-Shapra: “However, the person who keeps His word, that one has God’s love completely brought-up-to standard in him. By that we can perceive if we are really living with Jesus.”
  • Yanesha’: “However, if anyone reserves his word, this one, of a truth, our Father his love already has arrived on him in his heart. That’s why we know of a truth that we are one with him.”
  • Aguaruna: “But who obeys God’s Word, that person truly loves God. If we do that we are those who are truly in Him.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)

complete verse (Acts 26:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 26:7:

  • Uma: “So at this time, stand here to be examined, because I trust that God will fulfill his promise to our ancestors that says: all the dead people he will make alive again on a future day. We descendants of the twelve tribes [lit., mother-groups] of Israel, we all wait for the fulfillment of this promise, that’s why we worship God continually, both day and night. King whom I respect, because of this belief of mine in God’s promise, that is why I am being accused by the Yahudi people. And you, my Yahudi relatives! Why is it that you do not believe in the power of God to make alive the dead?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This was also hoped for by our (excl.) twelve Yahudi tribes, therefore they really worshiped God day and night. But because of this my hope, Sir, I am here accused by my fellow Yahudi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for all of us (incl.) Jewish people who are divided into twelve, we (incl.) believe that this will come to pass. Therefore day and night we worship God. Now, Dear King, in spite of the fact that I believe this, they used it as a reason to accuse me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “All moreover of our fellow Jews, that very thing is what they expect will be fulfilled to them, so they single-mindedly/persistently worship God daily and nightly. But because I believe that God made-Jesus -alive again and that is our basis-for-expecting that he will also make-alive the plural-dead, exactly that Sir King is what they accuse-me -of.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And as for the majority of Jews, who persevere night and day in their serving of God, they too are sure that they will be included in this which he has promised. But well, that indeed is what the Jews hold against me, respected King, this assurance of mine of what God has promised.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 4:43)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 4:43:

  • Noongar: “But Jesus said to them, ‘I must go to other towns, to tell people the Good News, telling them of the Kingdom of God, because God sent me to do this thing.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “But he said to them: ‘I must also go to other towns, announcing to them the good news that says the time has almost come for God to become King in the world. Because they is the intention of God in sending me here.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But he said to them, ‘I have to go also to other places and proclaim the good news about God’s ruling, for that is the reason why I was sent here to the world by God.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But Jesus said to them, ‘The good news about the rule of God, it is necessary that I tell it to people in other villages, because that’s the reason that God sent me.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But he said, ‘I must go preach in other towns as well the good news concerning God’s ruling (can refer to either place, time or act of ruling), because that’s the reason he sent me.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But Jesus replied to them, ‘It’s necessary that I teach also in other towns this Good News concerning the kingdom of God, for that’s why I was sent here.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Gurung: ” . . . ‘I must declare the good news saying, God is about to rule. Obey him, and he will give you blessing.'” (Source: Warren Glover in The Bible Translator 1978, p. 231ff.)