he found a Jew named Aquila

The Greek in Acts 18:2 that is translated as “he found a Jew named Aquila” in English is translated in Tzotzil as “he found one of his own people called Aquila” because a more literal translation would have implied that Paul is non-Jewish (source: Callow 1972, p. 35)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it says Aquila war ein Judenchrist or “Aquila was a Jewish Christian.”

See also the Jews plotted to kill him.

a man building a house

The Greek in Luke 6:48 that is translated as “a man building a house” in English is translated in Tampulma as “a man who built his house” since he was building the house for himself. (Source: Callow 1972, p. 35)

we must pay greater attention to

The Greek in Hebrews 2:1 that is translated as “we must pay greater attention to” or similar in English is translated in Miahuatlán Zapotec as “we need to show respect to and sit our ear to.” In Miahuatlán Zapotec, a generic verb is often followed by a more specific verb with the same meaning for greater emphasis. (Source: Callow 1972, p. 45)

the wages of sin is death

The Greek in Romans 6:23 that is translated in English as “(for) the wages of sin is death” or similar had to be translated into Tzotzil much more explicitly as “Because the one who works for sin, he will be paid for his work. The payment of his work will be that he will be lost eternally.” (Source: Callow 1972, p. 84)

without him not one thing came into being

The Greek in John 1:3 that is translated as “without him not one thing came into being” or similar in English is translated in Huehuetla Tepehua as “if it hadn’t been for him there would not have been the world or anything” and in Tenango Otomi as “of all the things there are, there is not one that he did not make.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February, 1970, p. 1-125.)

In Lalana Chinantec, the double-negative is turned into a positive: “All things came into being because that person made all that exists.” (Source: Larson 1998, p. 159)

In Bakairí, Jesus (Logos) had to stay the “focal character” so it’s translated as “He was the maker of all things.” (Source: Callow 1972, 61)

struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear

The Greek in John 18:10 that is translated as “struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear” or similar in English is translated in Muong as “cut off the high priest’s slaves right ear.” In Muong it is not possible to refer to the same event with different verbs. (Source: Callow 1972, p. 45)

complete verse (Matthew 9:34)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 9:34:

  • Uma: “But the Parisi people didn’t believe in Yesus’ power, they said: ‘Ah, that power/authority of his is from the king of demons. That is why he has the power to make demons go away.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But the Pariseo said, ‘He is given power by the leader of demons that’s why he can drive out the demons.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But the Pharisees said, ‘the boss of the demons, he’s the one who gave him the power so that he could cure those afflicted with demons.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But there were Pharisees there who said, ‘The leader of the evil-spirits is the one-who-gave him the power to cause-evil-spirits -to-leave.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘Oh,’ said the (pl.) Pariseo, ‘the one who gave him that ability to drive out evil spirits is indeed the leader/chief of the evil spirits.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But the Pharisees said: ‘This man here heals people who walk with evil spirits because it is the devil himself, the boss of evil spirits, who helps him do what he does.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Vagla: “(…) ‘Through the insides-power of the prince of bad spirits, he is able to chase bad spirits.'” (Source: Callow 1972, p. 64)