The Greek that is translated as “(they) insulted him and shook their heads” in English is translated in Dobel with the culturally equivalent “(they) continuously bit their lips at him and abused him.”
In Nüpode Huitoto, “shake their heads” is translated with the cultural equivalent “stick out their chins” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.), in Chol with “spitting on the ground,” in Copainalá Zoque with “clapping the hands” (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation, March 1965), p. 2ff.), and in Chichewa (interconfessional translation) as “showing their scorn” (“‘wagging their heads’ is understood as a nonverbal expression of frustration, grief, or even surprise — source: Wendland 1987, p. 110).
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) idiomatically with verzogen höhnisch das Gesicht und spotteten or “tauntingly grimaced at him and mocked him.”
Since the shaking of the heads as meaningless in Toposa, the translators chose to say “kept mocking him” (emphasis added), highlighting the continuous aspect. (Source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).
See also shake the head.
The Greek that is translated as “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with Der Heilige Geist macht mutig, aber als bloße Menschen sind wir feige or “The Holy Spirit makes us courageous, but as mere humans we are cowards.”
The now commonly-used English idiom “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (meaning a person pretending to be harmless) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 281)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The Greek in John 7:2 that is translated as “the Festival of Booths was near” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as das Laubhüttenfest stand vor der Tür or “the Festival of Booths was just around the corner” (lit: “right in front of the door”). This idiomatic translation plays on semantic parallels between the “booths” and “doors.”
The Greek in Revelation 2:23 that is translated as “searches minds and hearts” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) idiomatically as auf Herz und Nieren prüft or “assess the heart and the kidney (meaning: “assess every detail”).”
See also test the minds and hearts.
The Greek in Mark 4:11 that is translated as “to you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as unter euch ist Gottes Herrschaft unsichtbar, als Geheimnis, gegenwärtig or “God’s reign is present among you, invisibly, as a mystery.”
In a footnote they explain: “Literally: ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.’ This does not refer to understanding, because the disciples clearly still lacked that. The word ‘mystery’ [or: secret] refers to the state of the kingdom, not to the disciples’ knowledge.”
The Greek in Mark 14:61 that is translated as “Blessed One” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with Hochgelobten or “Highly Praised One.”
The Greek in Luke 9:51 that is translated as “when the days drew near for him to be taken up” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with als Jesu Lebenszeit zu Ende ging or “as Jesus’ lifetime came towards an end.”
They explain (p. 465): “The Greek word analempsis only occurs in the Bible right here. It is usually translated as ‘ascension, but it can also mean ‘end of life, death.’ We prefer this possible meaning because the focus here is not on the particular manner of Jesus’ departure after the resurrection, but on his end in Jerusalem (see esp. 13:32).
The Greek in Luke 21:4 that is translated as “she put in all she had to live on” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with sie gab ihr ganzes Leben or “she gave her whole life.”
