Language-specific Insights

complete verse (1 Corinthians 7:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 7:5:

  • Uma: “You men and women, don’t keep-distant-from each other so that you aren’t side-by-side [a euphemism] as is the custom of married couples. If for instance you are searching for opportunity to pray, and you agree not to be side-by-side for some length of time, that’s OK. But after that time is finished, be side-by-side again. For if you don’t do like that, it is so easy for you to be tempted by satan/demons to behave wrongly because you are not able to control/withstand your desires.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Do not refuse the wishes of your husband or your wife. Only if you agree/plan that you will not lie together for a while in order to be really able to pray. But it should be for a certain number (lit. how many) of days only. Then you should lie together again in order not to be tempted by demons, because perhaps you can’t endure your desire.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Don’t refuse your body to your spouse, but in order that your praying may not be hindered, it’s possible for you to deny each other if you have agreed already but it should be only for a few days. And when the time ends that you agreed upon, then it’s necessary that you sleep together again, because you might not be able to control your desire, and Satan can successfully tempt you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore do not refuse-each-other unless you two agree that you will not sleep-together for how many days so that you will have opportunity to pray. But when your prayers are finished, sleep-together again lest Satanas tempt you because of your not being-able-to-control your urges (lit. feelings).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Don’t refuse your spouse, except for an agreement that you will not lie-together(euph.for sexual relations) for a few days so that you can apply-yourselves(lit. face) well to prayer. Then when the time period you agreed on has passed, it’s necessary that you lie-together again. Like this is good so that you will not be dragged by Satanas to get involved sexually (lit. tresspass) with a person who is not your spouse, if supposing you can’t restrain yourself.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When the man has pleasure, the wife would not say that it isn’t possible. When it must be that to make prayers to God, it is better to make an agreement that the husband not touch his wife for a short time. Afterwards, continue like before. If they should not continue like before, concerning the one who cannot control his heart, the devil will cause him to sin with someone apart.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 19:37)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 19:37:

  • Noongar: “When Jesus was approaching Jerusalem on the road going down the Mount of Olives, a crowd of Jesus’ disciples, they started celebrating and praising God because of everything they had seen Jesus doing.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Close to the town of Yerusalem, at the bottom/descent of Olive mountin, all his many followers began to praise God. They made-a-loud-noise carried by their joy because of all the surprising things they had seen.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When Isa came close to Awrusalam, there at the slope of the hill Jaitun, all the crowd of his disciples gave thanks to God and praised him loudly because of the powerful deeds they had seen Isa doing.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as they were going down the Mount of Olives because they were already near to the town of Jerusalem, all of those disciples of his who were with him, they were very joyful and they praised God loudly because of all they had seen of the miracles which Jesus did.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When they arrived across-from Jerusalem where-the road -descended from the mountain Olivo, great was the happiness of his many disciples, and they began to raise (lit. make-strong) their voices in praising God because of the many amazing things they had seen.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When Jesus was now near Jerusalem going down the Hill of Olibo, that crowd of people were really noisy-and-excited now. They were praising God because of all the amazing things which they had observed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “It came about that he went close to the road which climbs down Oliv hill, and then very many of his disciples were happy. They thought about the many miracles which they saw, and so they shouted to lift up God’s name.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “When they got to a descending point on Mountain of Olives, the multitude began praising God with joy. They all kept singing because of the wonders that Jesus had done.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “Right then when Yesus was about to arrive over there at Yerusalem, over there on the descending path from Zaitun [Olive] hill then many people who followed Him already hooted glorifying Great Above One exalting His name and saying ‘That’s good! [Thanks!]’ to Him because of those impossible things which with their own eyes they had already seen happen. ” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Hiligaynon: “And when he is coming-down from the Mount of Olives, his followers are-joyful and are-shouting praise to God because of the miracle that they have-seen.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

complete verse (1 Corinthians 7:37)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 7:37:

  • Uma: “But if for instance that unmarried-man says in his heart: ‘It’s better for me not to get-married [wived],’–no one is forcing him, it’s his own desire–and if he is able to withstand the desires of his body, it’s good if they don’t get-married [coupled].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But if a person is certain in his liver that his daughter should not marry and there is nothing that forces him not to let his child/daughter marry, it is only from his wish that his daughter does not marry, his doing is also good.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, if that girl is not having a hard time, then never mind if he does not allow her to marry because this is better; however, he can do whatever he thinks best.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if his mind is firm/made-up that he is doing right if he doesn’t give-her -in-marriage and it’s not mandatory that she be married, that’s also good.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But if what is in the mind of the man is, he will not now marry that woman he has a (marriage) arrangement with, for he will hold fast to his unmarried state, that is also good. As long as he has really ensured in his mind/inner-being that that is what would be good for him to do, not just being forced into it, and he has been graced with the ability to control himself.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the man who firmly thinks that he should not give his daughter in marriage, thinking in his heart that it is not required, then it is good what he does.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Matumbi: “But if a person has himself has decided in his heart not to marry, and is not controlled by anyone, but instead controls himself and his desires to not marry that woman, he does rightly.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Luke 20:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 20:21:

  • Noongar: “These bad men said to Jesus, ‘Lord, we know you. When you speak to people, you speak truly. We know that you do not look at people’s power but teach people what God wants them to do.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “When they arrived at Yesus, those who had been commanded/sent/given-a-job-to-do said: ‘Teacher, we (excl.) know all your (sing.) words and your (sing.) teachings are all true. You (sing.) teach very clearly saying what is the will of the Lord God to mankind, and you (sing.) do not distinguish people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then those hired people said to Isa, ‘Sir, we (excl.) know that your words and teaching are correct. You make no difference between people and your teaching about the will of God is true.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And those people who were watching Jesus secretly, they said to him, they said, ‘Hey Chief! We know that you show no favoritism toward anyone, and what you say is true and you teach the truth about what God wants us to do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “These men went then to Jesus and they said, ‘Sir teacher, we (excl.) know that everything you (sing.) say and teach is correct. We (excl.) also know that you (sing.) don’t show-favoritism-to (lit. cause-to-be-differentiated) those who have status (lit. something to be acknowledged), but rather you (sing.) teach the truth concerning what God wants people to do.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When those people arrived, they questioned Jesus. They said, ‘Teacher, we know that what you say and teach really is true. You really don’t hold-back from teaching the truth which is the will of God, no matter who is listening.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (1 Corinthians 9:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 9:16:

  • Uma: “I cannot boast [lit., make-big my heart] in my work carrying the Good News, for God ordered me to do that work. In fact it would be disaster for me if I didn’t carry the Good News!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “It is not possible that I boast about my proclaiming the good news, because this work Isa Almasi commanded me to do, and it is not possible if I don’t do it. Truly very bad (things) would come to me if I would not proclaim the good news.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But it’s not allowable for me to boast about my spreading the Good News, because this was commanded me by the Lord, and it’s not possible that I do not carry it out. His punishment on me would be very heavy if I did not spread the Good News.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because there is nothing else that I can boast-about. My preaching the good news, I can’t boast-about that, because I am to-be-pitied if I don’t preach it, so it-is-mandatory (lit. it-is-forced) that I do it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I don’t mean that this teaching of mine of the Good News is a means-of-my-being-praised, since that is the position/responsibility to which I was appointed. It really is not possible/acceptable in my mind/inner-being and I am asking for God’s judgment if I don’t teach.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Do not think that I am only doing you a favor when I tell you the good news. For me it is my work, I am obliged to tell this word. Pity me if I do not speak the good word.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 21:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 21:6:

  • Noongar: “‘You see all these things. The day will come when not one of these stones will stand in its place; all the stones will be knocked down.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘The time will come when all that you see there will be destroyed, there will no longer be one stone on top of the other.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘All that you see here, will be destroyed in the future. There is a day when there will be none of those stones here left on top of the other but all will be scattered.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “‘The day is coming when all of these things which you see will be destroyed. There isn’t even one of these stones that will be left in its place because everything there is going to be knocked down.’ ‘” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘In-the-future indeed (prophetic formula) the day will arrive when all these-things that you see will be scattered, because not even a single stone will remain in its place.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But Jesus said, ‘What you are looking at there, which are its buildings, they will all be destroyed. For the day will come when no stone will be left on top of the stone it is stacked on. All will be caused to collapse.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (1 Corinthians 10:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 10:21:

  • Uma: “When we drink wine in our worshipping the Lord Yesus, we cannot also drink wine with those who worship demons. We can’t eat bread to remember the Lord’s death, and also eat with those who are worshipping demons. So it certainly isn’t fitting for us to enter an idol worship house and eat with them who worship idols. [NOTE: This is Paul’s main point, but he never explicitly states it! Cf. section heading at 10:14]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When you gather to eat and drink to remember the death of Isa Almasi, you cannot also follow/join in eating and drinking what the people have given to their idols. Because if you eat that, it is as if you follow now the demons.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for us (incl.) believers, if we carry out that which was commanded about the Lord’s supper, it is not allowable that we eat and drink also, that which was sacrificed by unbelievers to the demons. Because it’s as if we have fellowship with demons.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It is not possible for you to join in eating and drinking what has been offered to demons and at-the-same-time join in eating and drinking what reminds us of the Lord’s death.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For it is really not allowable that you include yourselves in the drinking and eating which is a remembrance of the far-from-ordinary death of the Lord, and (that you) also take part in feasts which are their means of worshipping the messengers of Satanas.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You can not eat the Holy Supper the Lord Jesus left for us to do and also go to where is eaten the meat offered to evil spirits.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Luke 21:38)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 21:38:

  • Noongar: “When the sun rose, all the people came to the Temple to hear Jesus.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Every morning the crowds gathered at the House of God wanting to hear his teaching.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And early in the morning yet, all the people went already to the temple to listen to his preaching/teaching.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And all the people in that town, they went early to the house of God because they wanted to hear his teaching.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore the many-people, they went early every-morning to the Temple to go listen to what he was saying.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore the people came early going to the Templo, so that they could hear the things Jesus was teaching.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)