Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:4:
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “How can an old man get little and be born again? Can he get inside his mother and be born again?”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “. . . How can a grown man have a new life? He cannot enter into the womb of his mother to be born again.”
- Alekano: “. . . One having become big, how will he appear new? How will he enter up into his mother’s stomach and she give birth? ” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “Nikodemus said: ‘Can a person who is already old be born again? Can he put himself in the womb of his mother and be born a second time?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Nikodemus said, ‘How can a person be born again when he is already old? He cannot enter again the womb of his mother and be born again.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And this Nicodemus asked saying, ‘How can a man who is already old be born again? He can’t return back to the stomach of his mother so that he can be born again.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “And then Nicodemus inquired, ‘How perhaps can a grown-man be born again? Can-he-return do-you-suppose into the stomach of his mother in order to then be born a-second-time (lit. repeat to be born)?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Nicodemo asked, ‘How can a person be born again when he is now old/mature? Can he yet enter again into the womb of his mother and be born again?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Nicodemus asked, ‘But how can he? How can a man who is old again live anew? Can he again enter into the inside of his mother in order to again live anew?'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 10:17:
- Aguaruna: “I will die on behalf of my sheep saying, ‘I will arise from the dead again.’ Therefore my Father loves me.”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “My Father loves me because I give my life and I take it again.”
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “I give up myself for people to kill me, but afterwards I will come to life again. And my Father loves me more because I am pleased to do that.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “‘My Father loves me, because I give my life in order to find my life again.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “‘I am really loved by my Father God because I submit to dying so that I will be made alive again.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason that my father’s breath is very big toward me is because I will allow myself to be killed in the stead of those people who belong to me and he will raise me up again from the dead.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “‘My Father, he loves me, because I will give my life so that I will then come-alive again.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “I am really held dear by my Father because of this, that I will give my life/breath so that I may reclaim it again.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “My Father loves me because I give up my life for my sheep. And then I can again be alive.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:5:
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “. . . God cannot rule in the heart of a person if he has not been born another time.”
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “The one who gives new life consists of water and of the Holy Spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit, he cannot go into where God reigns.”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: ” . . . He who doesn’t receive water again, and he who isn’t born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, he cannot go into where God reigns.”
- Tataltepec Chatino: “Jesus said, ‘It is true what I tell you. It is necessary that a person be baptized with water and the Holy Spirit give him a new life. Then that person will be in God’s hand.” (John 3:6 included) (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “Yesus said: ‘These my words are very true: If a person is not born with water and with the power of the Spirit of God, he will not become a person of God in his Kingdom.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Isa answered, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, if a person is not born from water and from the Spirit of God, he cannot enter the ruling/kingdom of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said again, ‘It is true what I say to you that a person can be included among the people whom God rules over only if he is born by means of water and by means of the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “‘This that I tell you (sing.) is true,’ answered Jesus. ‘If a person is not born by/with water and by/with the Holy Spirit, he can not join/belong-to the ruling of God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied, ‘This is the truth which I say to you. No one can be included in the kingdom of God unless he has been given birth to through/by water and the Espiritu Santo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘It is true what I tell you. It is necessary that a person be baptized with water and that the Holy Spirit give him a new life. Then that person will be in God’s hand.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:24:
- Uma: “These my words are very true: I may be compared to rice. If rice is not planted in the ground and covered up like a dead-person, it just [will stay] the same. But if it is planted, its fruit will be much.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Truly I tell you, that one grain of seed remains just one grain as long as it is not put in the soil. But when it is put in the soil already, figuratively like it has died and is buried, na then it sprouts and has much fruit.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It is very true what I say to you, that if a seed is not buried in the earth, it cannot have offspring. And if it is buried and it sprouts, it will bear much fruit. I am the same way because if I die, many will be given new life.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Like what happens to a seed. Because this that I tell you is true that if a seed is not planted in order to thus rot and sprout, it will remain-unchanged only-one. But if it is planted and rots, then it will sprout and will bear-much -fruit.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “This is the truth which I am saying to you, an illustration of me is, like planting-seed. As for planting-seed, when it’s planted it’s like it will die because it will rot, but that’s how it will become many. But if it isn’t planted, it’s only by itself.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Truly I tell you that it is necessary that I be killed in order that many will find the new life. It is like a seed of wheat which remains just one seed when it isn’t placed in the ground. But when it is placed in the ground, the seed grows and much wheat is gathered at harvest.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:24:
(In many languages it is necessary to avoid using the word ‘die’ because a dead seed will not grow.)
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “Truly I tell you, if a grain of wheat is planted, the grain perishes when the plant comes up, but then many grains of wheat are produced. But the grain remains alone if it does not perish and come up as a plant. Also in that manner it is necessary that I die so that my people may multiply.”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “This is the truth. If a seed is going to give its fruit, it is necessary that it be buried in the earth. And when it is buried, first it appears as if it were destroyed, but later it will give its fruit. And thus also it will happen to me when I am buried. ” (Source for this and one above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
Note: “In many languages it is necessary to avoid using the word ‘die’ because a dead seed will not grow.” (Source: John Beekman)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:6:
- Umiray Dumaget Agta: “That which originates from the body of a person is the body of a person. That which originates from the Spirit of God is spirit.”
- Aguaruna: “Those born from people are people. Those born by God’s spirit, they have God’s spirit.”
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “All the children of human beings are human beings by birth. All who are born another time, this being the work of the Holy Spirit, these are new people.”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “One who is a child of people, he has his flesh and bones. And one who has his new life by the power of the Holy Spirit, he has the Spirit of God.”
- Chol: “He who is born of a mother is given a body. He who is born of the spirit is given life in his heart.”
- Alekano: “One that people give birth to will surely have a person’s soul. One that the Spirit gives birth to, he will surely have the Spirit’s soul.”
- Tenango Otomi: “A child, when it is born, if his parents are only people, is also only a person. But in order for a person to live anew, only the Holy Spirit can cause it.”
- Lalana Chinantec: “People’s flesh and blood causes our flesh and blood to be alive when we are born. But the great Spirit of God causes our hearts to be alive.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “Man lives in this world, and is born from his parents. But the new life of his soul he receives from the Holy Spirit.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “What is born of mankind is mankind/human. But if a person is born again from the Spirit of God, he is made a child of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That which is born by means of a human is only human also, but that which is born by means of the power of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit lives in him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Because the one to whom a person gives-birth, he is humanlike (connotes limited, sinful humanity), but the one by-contrast to whom the Holy Spirit gives-birth, he is spiritual (loan naispiritoan).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Because the one given birth to by a human, he is indeed human, a slave yet to sin. But that one who has been given birth to again, for he has been given birth to by the Espiritu Santo, he is now free from that slavery.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “A child, when it is born and his parents are only people, is also only a person. But in order for a person to live anew, only the Holy Spirit is able to cause it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 15:8:
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “If you give very much fruit, if you do very much what God wants, in this manner you honor the Father and thus it shows that you are really my disciples.”
- Aguaruna: “When you give much fruit and the people see that, they will say, ‘Surely he is Jesus’ follower.’ When you do this they will praise my Father.”
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “In that way you make my Father big, doing much good so that people know that truly you are my disciples.”
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “My Father receives honor when you do very much the things which he likes and also you are showing that you are following me like you should, if you are doing very much the things that he likes.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “If you bear much fruit, my Father is made big. If like that your behavior, you are really my followers.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “If you do much good, my Father will be praised and it will also be known that you are truly my disciples.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If you continue fruiting, which is to say, if your works are always good, people will praise my Father God, and it will be known that you truly are my disciples.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “This is wherein-my Father -is-honored, if your faith has much fruit, and this also is how you will show that you are my disciples.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “The praiseworthiness/glory of my Father is apparent when/if the fruit of your believing/obeying is plentiful and growing well in your life. If it’s like that, it’s proof that you are my disciples.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “My Father will be respected when you live good lives. This also will make it apparent that you are my learners.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:30:
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “It is necessary that it be known that he is the great one. But it is necessary that I be thought nothing of.”
- Aguaruna: “He will be more surpassing. I will not be great, I will be small.”
- Isthmus Mixe: “He must be honored by many people, but I will no longer be honored.”
- Chol: “Christ must be the more important one. I must be made less important.”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “It is necessary that they follow Jesus more and more and that they follow me less and less.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “He is the one whose life must be made high, and my life must be made low.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “He has to become greater/more honored but I have to become lower/less,’ said Yahiya.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For example, if there is a man being married, the bride belongs to him. As for the wedding arranger, his breath is very good when he hears that bridegroom talking with the one he has married. It’s like that also because it pleases me very much if many follow Jesus,’ said John. ‘It is necessary that mine should be removed.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “It is necessary that he be-made-greater (lit. high) while-simultaneously I become-lower.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “It’s necessary that he becomes praiseworthy/highly-praised, but as for me, I just become insignificant.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “That one, the people must know better that he surpasses, and I must be second more.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 17:7:
- Lalana Chinantec: “They have learned that you have given me everything which is mine.”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “And now they know that it is your power by which I do all things.”
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “Now they know that everything is yours, all the things that you gave me.”
- Asháninka: “Now they all know that you are the author of all that you have taught me.”
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “And they already know that all these things that I do and all that I say come from yourself.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “Now, they know: all that you (sing.) gave to me, is definitely from you (sing.), Father.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “and they are sure that all you have given to me is truly from you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They now know that all that I am able to do comes only from you,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “and now they have come-to-know that you (sing.) are the source of all I have done and said.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Now they know that as for everything you entrusted to me, there’s no other place it came from but on the contrary it all came from you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Now they know that all I speak is what you told me.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
