Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Acts 15:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 15:3:

  • Uma: “So, the Kristen people in Antiokhia escorted them to outside the town, From there, they walked toward Yerusalem. During that journey of theirs, they passed the lands of Fenisia and Samaria, and the whole length of the road they recounted how people who were not Yahudi people had repented from their sins and believed on the Lord Yesus. That news gladdened the hearts of all the one-faith relatives.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They were then sent (lit. caused-to-walk/travel) by the trusters in Isa in Antiyok. They passed through the country of Penisiya and through Samariya. While they were passing through, they reported that the non-Yahudi tribes were now trusting in Isa. All the trusters in Isa were very glad when they heard this.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as they left, they were helped by the believers. They passed through the provinces of Phoenicia and Samaria, and they told the people who are not Jews and abandoned their former beliefs so that they might follow God. And when the believers there heard this, they were very happy.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then the congregation saw-them -off (lit. caused-them -to-set-out). While they were walking then through the provinces Fenicia and Samaria, they stopped-along-the-way to relate to the believers there the believing of the Gentiles in Jesus. And they were made-happy upon their hearing that.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, Pablo-and-co set out. Some other believers escorted- them -a-short-way. Well, at each place they passed through on their journey, in the district of Fenicia and Samaria, Pablo-and-co were relating to the believers there how many people who weren’t Jews had become believers in the Lord. Everyone of the believers who heard was pleased.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 13:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 13:4:

  • Uma: “They said: ‘Tell us (excl.) when what you said earlier will happen, and what will be the sign when all that is about to happen.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They asked Isa, they said, ‘Tell us (excl.), when will those things that you talked about happen? What is the sign that will appear when all that will soon happen?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “‘Tell us when will be the time when this will happen and what signs will take place so that we will know when is the time when all these things you talked about a while ago will take place.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Please tell when that will be done and what sign will be our (excl.) means-of-recognizing that the fulfillment of all these is near.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘When is it,’ they said, ‘that those things you said will happen, and what are the signs that all of that will now be fulfilled?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (1 John 5:7)

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

  • Uma: “So, this is the way God makes-clear to us that Yesus is his Child: the Holy Spirit testifies that he is God’s Child. And what happened when he was baptized and when he died also makes-clear that he is God’s Child. These three things have the same purpose, that Yesus is God’s Child.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, three are that witness:” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There are three who witness about Jesus Christ.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When Jesu Cristo came to this earth, there were three-things which confirmed that he was the Child of God. The one, it was his being baptized in/with water. But it wasn’t only his being baptized which confirmed-it but rather his blood as well which flowed-down at his death. As for the third, it was the Holy Spirit, and all that he says is true. These three, what they confirmed regarding Jesu Cristo was the same.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The truth is, there are really three who testify about this, concerning Jesu-Cristo, as to who he really is.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But now there are three who testify in heaven to the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The first is his Father. The second is the Son of God, the one who makes known who God is. The third is the Holy Spirit. These three say the same thing.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “There are three witnesses in heaven speaking about Jesus Christ: Our Father God, and the person who is the Word, and the Spirit of God. And just the same thing speaks our father God, with what the person speaks who is the word, and with what the Spirit of God speaks.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “There are (living) three in heaven who witness saying the same thing, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. One is the Father, One is the Word, and One is God’s Good Spirit.”
  • Tzotzil: “There are three there in heaven that tell us about Jesus Christ. They are our Father God and the one whose name is Word and the Holy Spirit. The three of them say the same thing that Jesus Christ is God’s Son.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Acts 15:35)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 15:35:

  • Uma: “As for Paulus and Barnabas, they were rather a long time in Antiokhia, teaching people and announcing the Word of the Lord, along with many other people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But Paul and Barnabas were still left behind in Antiyok. They taught and proclaimed the word/message of God together with the others.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Paul and Barnabas stayed a long time there in Antioch. They and their many companions, they talked and they caused to be understood the word of the Lord.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But Pablo and Barnabas, they continued still in Antiok teaching and preaching concerning the Lord Jesus. Many also of their companions who believed joined-in-helping them in that-aforementioned work of theirs.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Pablo and Barnabe stayed a long time at Antioquia, continuing again to teach the word of the Lord. Many too were their companions who were teaching there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 13:36)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 13:36:

  • Uma: “So, they indeed had to be on the watch, for they didn’t know when the house owner would come, whether at evening or in the middle of the night or early morning or when the sun rises. It wouldn’t be good if [lit., Don’t-don’t] he arrived suddenly and found them asleep. So also you must be on the watch, for you don’t know when I will arrive.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For perhaps he will suddenly arrive and find you sleeping.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It is necessary that I do not come upon you sleeping when I suddenly return.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In case my coming is sudden/unexpected, it would be good if I don’t come-upon you sleeping.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For maybe I will come suddenly, and on my arrival you won’t be ready like a guard who is asleep.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (3 John 1:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:5:

  • Uma: “Friend! I am happy because you faithfully [lit., remain] help our relatives who stop-in at your village. Even the ones you do not yet know, you still help them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My beloved friend, you are really persevering in serving our (incl.) brothers who trust in Almasi even if you don’t know each other.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My dear brother, you are very gracious, for you took care of our (incl.) brothers who stopped by there, even though that was the first time you had met them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “What you (sing.) have been doing with our brothers who have been staying-overnight there is extremely-good, because even though they are only strangers (particle indicating appreciation to addressee), you have nonetheless reportedly cared-for them properly.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My dear friend, your nature/ways are really good in that you are always-helpful to our siblings in believing, even when not acquaintances of yours.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my dear brother, you are doing good in that you are taking care of our brothers and even though they are strangers, you help them.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “You dear Gayo, when you help our brethren who are from other places, you do a good thing.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Loved-one, there is a lot of your grace (favor) in that you take care of your siblings, even though you don’t know them.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “Brother whom I love, you do well when you help the brethren even though you don’t know them.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Acts 16:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 16:26:

  • Uma: “At that time all of a sudden there was unexpectedly a big earthquake, with the result that the foundation-stones of the jail moved/shook. All the doors immediately opened and the chains binding all the prisoners opened/loosened by themselves.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Suddenly there was a very strong earthquake so that the foundation (lit. for-placing-on) of that prison was shaken. Immediately all the doors opened and the chains of all the prisoners dropped off.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then it suddenly earthquaked very strongly, and the prison was thoroughly shaken, and then and there the doors of the prison came open, and the chains on the prisoners dropped off.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, there was right-then a fearful earthquake that severely shook the prison, and the doors all-opened, while the chains that were handcuffed to the various-prisoners abruptly-came-off.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And then suddenly/unexpectedly the earth quaked strongly. Without anything further, all the supports of that jail swayed, at the same time the doors opened and what was fastening each one came undone.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 14:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 14:31:

  • Uma: “But Petrus strengthened his words all the more, he said: ‘Even if I die with you (sing.), I will not deny that I know you (sing.)!’ So also were the words of the other disciples.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But Petros spoke even more distinct, he said, ‘Even if I die together with you, I will really not deny you.’ And all of them, this is also what they said.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Peter didn’t agree with that, and he said, ‘Even if I am killed along with you, I will not say that I do not know you.’ And then that was also the promise that his companion disciples made.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then Pedro insisted saying, ‘Even if it-is-necessary that I die-with you (sing.), I absolutely will not deny you (sing.).’ And so also said all his fellow disciples.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But Pedro was insistent, saying, ‘Even if I will be killed along with you, I really won’t deny you!’ Like that too was said by all those other disciples.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)