Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Matthew 23:35)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 23:35:

  • Uma: “Your ancestors killed many people whose behavior was upright, beginning with their killing Habel, a person whose behavior was upright long-ago, down-to [lit., arrive-arrive to] your killing Zakharia the child of Berekia, whom you killed in the yard of the House of God, between the house and the offering burning table [altar]. So, to you who live at this time, I will also send/order prophets, smart people and ones who will teach you my words. Some of them you will kill, some of they you will crucify, others you will beat in your houses of prayer, others you will chase to the villages they will flee to. In the end, you who live at this time will bear all the wrong/guilt of your elders who killed the upright people long ago.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore judgment will fall on you (lit. you will be hit by judgment) because of the killing of people who have no sin, beginning with Habil the son of Grandfather Adam up to Jakariya the son of Baraki whom you killed between the big prayer-house and the place-for-sacrifice.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because of this, you will be the ones punished for the murder of all the righteous who were murdered starting with the killing of Abel, the righteous one long ago, until the killing of the son of Barachiah, who was Zechariah, that you murdered in the space between the House of God and the altar of sacrifice.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore you will be responsible for the deaths of all the righteous people on this earth beginning with when they killed Abel until when your ancestors killed Zekarias the child of Barakias in the area-between the altar and the Temple.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, because of this, the punishment will come to you for all these people who have been killed under the heavens who are straight/righteous in the sight of God, going from that righteous Abel who was the first to be killed long ago, right up to the killing of Zacarias who was the son of Baraquias, whom you Judio killed there between the house/building of the Templo and the altar in its like-a-yard.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore there where you live, all the punishment will be sent to you which is for all the good people who have been killed, starting with the killing of the good Abel until the son of Barachiah, son of Zechariah who was killed between where the altar and the church were.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Philippians 3:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philippians 3:12:

  • Uma: “Relatives, I am not saying that I already have received all that, to the point that I am holy and have no more sin. Of course not. But I exert-effort to get all that, so that I can really be holy–for that is why Kristus Yesus chose me to become his portion.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I am not saying that all those (things what he talked about) are mine/belong to me now or that now I have no more fault. But I continually aim at doing the will/wish of Isa Almasi, for that is the reason why he claimed-me-as-his-own.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I’m not saying here that all of these things have already been fulfilled in me, or that I have already become a person who has nothing to be scolded for; but rather, I just keep on so that these things might come to pass, because this was the purpose of Jesus Christ when He made me His subject.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I don’t think/say that I have already attained these-things and neither do I think/say that I now have no faults. But I put-forth all my efforts (lit. ability) to fulfill Cristo’s purpose in turning-me -into his person.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That’s not to say that all of this has now been fulfilled in my life. Also it doesn’t mean that I don’t happen-to-sin any more. But I am really striving very much to be able to do the whole will of Cristo Jesus, because he made me his subject so that I would strive for this in my life.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It lacks in what all I must do in my walk. I cannot say that there is noting that lacks now. But now I earnestly endeavor to bring about that perhaps I will arrive to doing what Christ called me to do.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 15:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 15:12:

  • Uma: “‘This is my command: Love one another, like I also love you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This is what I command you, you shall love each other as I love you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This is my command to you, that it is necessary that each one of you is big in the breath of any of you just like you are big here in my breath.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘This also is what I command you that you love-one-another just like my manner-of-loving you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For this is what I am commanding, value one another, just like my valuing of you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “This word is what I order you – that you love each other like I love you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “This is what I command you guys: desire each other’s faces [love each other] in the same way in which I myself desire your faces.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

complete verse (Matthew 24:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 24:28:

  • Uma: “If there is something dead, it-is-knowable because many birds will gather to eat. So also will be my coming back to the world, I won’t come back hidden, it will be knowable.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then Isa said a proverb, he said, ‘Wherever there is a corpse there the crows gather.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But wherever there is that which stinks, there the crows will cluster also, which is to say, all of this will certainly come to pass.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “For-sure these will be fulfilled like what they say, ‘Wherever the dead-people are, that will be the gathering-place of the birds who eat them.’ ‘” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The proverb says, where the one who died is, that’s where the vultures will gather.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There where the people are who deserve to be judged, there will be the punishment.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Colossians 1:3)

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

  • Uma: “Every time we (excl.) pray for you, we (excl.) always say thank you to God the Father of our Lord Yesus Kristus,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Every time we (excl.) pray for you, we (excl.) always thank God, the Father of our (incl.) Leader Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for us, when we pray for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When we (excl.) pray-for you to God who is the Father of Jesu Cristo our Lord, we always thank him,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Every time we (excl.) pray for you, we are really always giving thanks to God, he who is the Father of our Lord Jesu-Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning God, he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him I always give thanks when I pray concerning you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 16:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 16:17:

  • Uma: “His disciples became confused, and some of them asked each other, they said: ‘Why does he say to us: ‘Just a little while and you will no longer see me. In just a little while more, you will see me again’ Why also does he say: ‘I am going to my Father’?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Some of Isa’s disciples talked together, they said, ‘What does it mean what he says, ‘Not much longer and you will not see me any more, after that not much longer and you will see me again?’ And this he also said, ‘For I am going to my Father.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then some of his disciples began to ask each other, ‘What is it that he said a while ago when he said that in a very short time we could no longer see him, and then in a little while after that we would see him again, and also that which he said that he is going home to his Father?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That being so, some of his disciples, they repeatedly asked-each-other, ‘What perhaps does he mean to say? He says that it won’t be long and we won’t see him, then he says that it won’t also be long and we will again see him. And he also says that he is going to his Father.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Some of his disciples were talking among themselves. They said, ‘What is this he is saying? Why did he say, ‘In just a little time, you will no longer see me, and then a little time more and you will see me again’? And what he said also, ‘Because I will now go home to the Father’.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Some of the learners asked each other, ‘What is the meaning of what he says? He tells us that it won’t be long until we see him. And he says that he will go to heaven where his Father is.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Matthew 25:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 25:10:

  • Uma: “So the stupid young-women did go to buy oil. While they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five young women who were wise, since their torches were already ready, they right away went into the feasting/partying house with the bridegroom, and they closed the door.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, the stupid ones went to buy. While they were gone the bridegroom arrived. The five girls who were ready went with him into the house of the wedding, then the door was closed.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. And these five virgins who were wise, they went with him into the house where the wedding was. And after they had gone inside, the house was shut up.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘So then, they went to buy. But when they had gone, the man-getting-married arrived. The young-ladies who were waiting already-prepared, they went-with (him) to the house where they were going. They joined-in-entering to join-in-eating and join-in-celebrating with the other invited ones, and then it was closed (door).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, those five simple-minded ones set out. After they had left, that man arrived who was being married. Well, as for those five who were prepared, they went into the marriage-feast-place along with that man. After they had entered, the door was closed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The foolish girls went out to buy oil. But the bridegroom arrived. Those girls who were prepared entered with him into the house. The door was then closed.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (Colossians 2:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of Colossians 2:6:

  • Uma: “So, relatives, since you have received Kristus Yesus as [lit., becoming] your Lord, well-then, your actions every day must follow his will, for you-are-connected-with him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, because you have received already Isa Almasi and he is now your Leader, your behavior ought to match/imitate him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And since you have received Jesus Christ, your Lord, it’s necessary that your behavior is worthy of your relationship to Him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Since (i.e. because) you have received the true teaching that Cristo Jesus is the Lord, you must also follow a way-of-life that is appropriate for a person who has been united-with him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well-now now that you have accepted that Cristo Jesus is your Lord, it’s necessary that you live according to the life of people who are now united/tied-together with him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When you first believed in Jesus Christ, you made him to be your Lord. Now this Christ whom you have made your Lord, only he should always fill your hearts now.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Central Bontok: “As therefore we (dual) received Christ Jesus the Lord, so let us (dual) live in him.” (In Central Bontok, an exhortation to better character is always done in the first person dual — source: Larson 1998, p. 250)