Language-specific Insights

bind (him)

The Greek that is translated as “bind” or “bound” in English cannot be translated in some languages without specifying what is bound. In Quetzaltepec Mixe it says “bound him by the hands.”

serve

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)

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.”

See fast (verb).

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.