Language-specific Insights

comfort, encourage

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated in English as “encourage” or “comfort” is translated in Enlhet as “become calm of the innermost.” “Innermost” or valhoc is a term that is frequently used in Enlhet to describe a large variety of emotions or states of mind (for other examples see here). (Source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. )

In Bacama it is translated as “(to) cool stomach” (source: David Frank in this blog post ), in Yatzachi Zapotec as “cause hearts to mature,” in Isthmus Zapotec “hearts may lie quiet” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.) and in Thai “give heart power to” (source: Bratcher / Hatton 2000).

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions and consolation.

root of Jesse

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “root of Jesse” or similar in English is translated as “descendant of the ancient man of God who was called Jesse” in Huehuetla Tepehua, as “a person born in the family line of Jesse” in Yatzachi Zapotec, and as “a son from the people of Jesse the father of David” in Mezquital Otomi. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

The following is a stained glass window in St Peter & St Paul church in Salle, England. It was designed ca. 1888 by Ernest Heasman. It is part of a larger window describing Jesus’ family tree :

Photo by Zorba the Geek, hosted by Wikimedia Common under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

chosen by grace

The Greek in Romans 11:5 that is translated as “chosen by grace” or similar in English is translated as “God had mercy on and chose” in Isthmus Zapotec, as “picked out to worship him because he loves them” in Yatzachi Zapotec, and “God loving very much chose” in Central Tarahumara. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

I will lay down my life for you

The Greek in John 13:37 that is translated as “I will lay down my life for you” is translated in various ways:

(Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

declared to be Son of God with power

The Greek in Romans 1:4 that is translated as “(he was) declared to be Son of God with power” or similar is translated into various languages as:

  • Tzeltal: “by means of God’s power it was made evident that (Jesus) is the Son of God
  • Sayula Popoluca: “God said that he is his Son and that he has strength”
  • Hopi: “Thus God showed to the people that he was his Son, (Jesus) having received power from the Holy Spirit”
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Shows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that Jesus Christ is powerful”

(Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

guileless as to what is evil

The Greek in Romans 16:19 that is translated as “guileless as to what is evil” or similar in English is translated as “don’t let others deceive you so that you do evil” in Miahuatlán Zapotec, as “fear the bad life” in Huehuetla Tepehua, as “don’t be those who know sick words” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui, as “don’t get involved with evil” in Yatzachi Zapotec, and as “never do evil” in Central Tarahumara. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

build up

The Greek that is translated as “building up” in many English versions is translated in Chol with a term that specifically indicates to make others better (here and elsewhere, in their faith in Christ). (Source: Robert Bascom)

In Huehuetla Tepehua it is translated as “have more confidence in Christ,” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “cause that their hearts grow strong with reference to the way of God,” in Yatzachi Zapotec as “to become stronger in their faith,” and in Central Tarahumara as “so that they can believe better yet.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)