In Seri “The woman just wanted to be sure John died” is added to the verse. Without it the head served on a tray implied cannibalism. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
Language-specific Insights
Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket (...) and not on the lampstand?
The Greek that is transated as “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket (…) and not on the lampstand?” or similar in English is translated in Bahnar as “Do I ever bring in a lamp…? Don’t I put it on a lamp stand?” because in Bahnar illustrative metaphors occur in first person singular. (Source: Larson 1998, p. 250)
In Seri, the first part is translated as “A lamp is not lighted and … placed under an inverted basket.” Here, the implication that the lamp is lit had to be made explicit, as did the fact that the basket was inverted before placing it over the lamp. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
at home
The Greek that is translated as “at home” or similar in English is translated in Tohono O’odham as “there where he was accustomed to staying” and in Seri as “in a house,” since “in his house” would imply that he was married, as a single man normally lives in his parents’ house. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
See also in the house.
accuse
The Greek that is translated as “accuse him” in English is translated in Seri as “accuse him of doing that which was not permitted,” since an object to “accuse” was required. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
could not even eat
The Greek that is translated as “could not even eat” or similar in English had to be translated more specifically in Tsafiki as “they could not eat because there was no time” and likewise in Serias “they did not have time even to eat.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
woke up
fell at this feet
The Greek that is translated in English as “fell at this feet” or similar is translated in Seri as “knelt before him to show respect” since function of the action had to be made specific. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
sitting with the guards
The Greek that is translated as “sitting with the guards” or similar in English is translated in Seri “Peter was seated in the corral of the house of the high priest with the soldier-guards.” Seri houses do not have patios nor porches. They often do have a fence around them inside of which is an enclosed area which serves as a yard. No animals are kept in this corral. (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)