Language-specific Insights

complete verse (John 1:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:14:

  • Aguaruna: “That word, when he arrived here, was born a human being, and in this way he lived with us. That completely good person was a speaker of the truth. And also we came to know his greatness because his Father, God, had said to his only Son, ‘You are great.'”
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “The Person who is the Word was born human and he was with us. He loved mankind very much and he taught mankind all the true words of God. We saw him and we realized that he is the Person of greatest worth because he is the only Son of our Father God.”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “And the One who is called Word, he became a Person, and he lived in our midst. And we saw how he had power. That power is that of the only Son of Father God. He is very kind and merciful and all which he says it is true.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “That Word, he became man[kind], and he lived among us (incl.). We (excl.) saw his power. That power of his he received from his Father, for He is the Only Child. [It is] from him that we know God and his grace [lit., white insides] to us.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, the Word appeared/was-born here in the world having a human body and living among mankind. All love and truth was there with him. We (excl.) were-able to see his power and his brightness, and this his power and brightness were fitting for him for he is the only Son of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the one called the Word of God became human and joined himself to us. He is very gracious and his words are very true. We saw his great high rank which is the high rank of the only child of God. And as for that high rank of his, it was given to him by his Father God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The Word, he became a person and stayed-with us (excl.). He was consistently-compassionate and what he said was all true. We (excl.) saw his godhood which was the godhood of the only Child of God who came-from his Father.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This Jesus who is called Word, he became a human and then lived here in the world together-with us. His praiseworthiness/glory was experienced by our (excl.) eyes, this glory of his being the glory of the one-and-only Son/child of God the Father. We (excl.) also comprehended the big-size of his grace/mercy and that everything which he revealed/came-out-with is indeed truth.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He who makes known how God is became a person. He lived here where we live. We saw that he is the greatest. He is the greatest because he is God’s only son. He spoke only what is true and he loves the people without limit.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “That which is-being-called the Word was-born and dwelt/joined-with us (incl.) here. We (excl.) have-seen his high-position as the only Child of the Father. He is very [intensifier] merciful and what he is-telling is pure truth.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “This Message lived as a person, and He lived among us and we saw the height of His shining Glory. This person is the only Child of Our Father, He Himself has good insides and gave us goodness which is tuberfully correct.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Bariai: “And the Talk became human, and so he came living in our (excl.) midst. And so we saw his light and his great power, it’s the light of the one child whose Father sent him to come. He was full of the action/practice of a soft interior and true talk.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kupsabiny: “That word became a person, it came to live with us and we saw his greatness. That greatness is what a son who is only one, gets from where the father is. He loved people completely and brought the word of truth.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Anindilyakwa: “And that same one who revealed God who was hidden from us, he became a human being like us. He was born, he had flesh and bones and then he lived here and went around with us people. He is rich in love, he was very kind and he kept on and on speaking the truth. We saw that he was the leading powerful and beautiful one, the one who was his Father’s one and only Son, the one who came from his Father to here.” (Source: Julie Waddy in The Bible Translator 2004, p. 452ff.)

complete verse (1 Peter 1:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Peter 1:2:

  • Uma: “You were chosen by God the Father because thus was his purpose from the beginning. He chose you with the work of the Holy Spirit who made you his portion, with the result that you submit to Yesus Kristus and he made you holy with his blood. Many greetings: I cry out to God, that he give you more-and-more of his blessings and goodness of life.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “God our (incl.) Father knew you already beforehand and chose you to make you his people and your (pl.) livers have been cleaned/made holy by the Spirit of God. You are chosen so that you follow/obey Isa Almasi and so that your sins are forgiven because of Isa Almasi’s blood that was poured out at his death. May (karayaw) God’s help to you increase and may the peace in your livers increase.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Our Father God has chosen you according to His desire long ago which was: He wanted to make you righteous by means of the Holy Spirit so that you might become subjects of Jesus Christ and so that you might also be forgiven because of your being annointed with the blood of Jesus. May He show you kindness, and may you be very peaceful.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “God the Father chose you according to his original/previous decision (doesn’t imply later change of mind) to turn-you -into his holy people through the Holy Spirit. That’s what he decided in order that you would obey Jesu Cristo and be cleansed through his blood. May you increasingly experience grace/mercy/kindness and peace.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for you, you were chosen by God the Father in harmony with what-he-had-in-mind already and had determined from the distant past. He chose you so that by the power of the Espiritu Santo who indwells your body, you will be made obedient to Jesu-Cristo, your sins now having been forgiven because of his blood which was shed (lit.caused to drip). I pray that hopefully always plentiful there with you is the grace/mercy and peace/protection of mind/inner-being which God gives.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “God our Father chose you because he knew what must come about in the future. The Holy Spirit caused you to become God’s people. It is wanted that you do what Jesus Christ orders you to do and to be acquitted of your sin by means of his blood which he shed. I want that God will very much give you his blessing and give you peace of heart.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)