Language-specific Insights

blindfold

The Greek that is translated as “blindfold” in English cannot be translated in some languages without specifying the object that the blindfolding is done with. In Quetzaltepec Mixe it says “blindfold him with a cloth.”

old (commandment)

The Greek that is translated as “old (commandment)” in English is translated in Quetzaltepec Mixe as “this is not the first time this commandment has been told to you…” because “old” has the connotation of “obsolete.”

established, instituted, put in place

The Greek that is translated as “instituted (or: put in place, established) by God” is translated in Quetzaltepec Mixe as “permitted by God” (since to say that God placed them there would mean he is in favor of whatever they do, no matter how unjust.)

mistreat and stone

The Greek that is translated into English as “mistreat them and stone them” or something similar is is translated in Quetzaltepec Mixe with the existing idiomatic expression “whip and stone.”

fast (Luke 5:33)

The Greek word that is translated as “fast” in English is translated in Quetzaltepec Mixe as “fast and do not drink” in Luke 5:33 to correspond to the second part of the verse which says (in English) “but your disciples eat and drink.”

stand over

The Greek that is translated as “stood over her” is translated in Quetzaltepec Mixe as “approached her” since leaning over her would be culturally inappropriate.

passed through

The Greek that is translated in English as “passed through (the midst of them)” needs to be translated in greater detail in some languages, including Quetzaltepec Mixe, because it needs to be specified that Jesus first needed to free himself before he could “pass through the midst of them.”