The Greek in Romans 7:14 that is translated as “the law is spiritual” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with das Gesetz ist von Gott und der Art des Heiligen Geistes or “the law is from God and of the nature of the Holy Spirit.” The translators explain (p. 163): “Or: of a divine, heavenly nature. Our translation emphasizes the correspondence between the spiritual character of the law and the spiritual character of the person who can then fulfill the law (see Romans 8:4).”
I am the door (gate)
The Greek in John 10:9 that is translated in English typically as “I am the door (or: gate)” is translated in Lak as “I am the entrance.”
Vitaly Voinov tells this story:
“Field testing showed that some readers might find it hard to understand how a person could say about themselves that they are a door or gate. What exactly this metaphor means in this context was not well understood and caused what linguists call ‘processing difficulty.’ Even when it was explicated by ‘I am the door/gate for the sheep,’ it still caused problems in understanding. In other languages that have experienced a similar problem with this metaphor, translators have sometimes resorted to turning it into a simile, ‘I am like a door/gate.’ But in the Lak case, this would still leave unanswered the basic question of what the exact point of similarity is between Jesus and a door/gate. After much discussion, the team decided to try a different synonym, ‘I am the entrance.’ Further field testing should show whether this has solved the problem or not.”
Likewise, in Chichewa, “‘door’ is ‘that which shuts in,’ so naturally no one is going to be able to ‘enter by’ it. The solution in this case is not too hard to find: Christ is the ‘doorway,’ or entrance, to the house, building, stockpen, or whatever. When ‘open,’ he allows free passage; when ‘closed,’ one’s entry is barred.” (Source: Wendland 1987, p. 121)
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as Ich bin das Gatter, using the term that is used for a gate in an animal pen.
filled with new wine
The Greek in Acts 21:3 that is translated as “filled with new wine” in English is translated in Elhomwe as evonille ottheka or “drunk,” literally “to be full of beer.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) is is translated with zuviel Süßwein gesoffen or “boozed on too much sweet wine.”
word that is written in their law
The Greek in John 15:25 that is translated as “word that is written in their law” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as der Satz aus ihrem Gesetz or “the sentence in their law.”
sickle
The Greek that is translated as “sickle” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as Winzermesser or “vine knife.”
See also swung his sickle over the earth.
for saying that
as a testimony to them
cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful
The Greek in Luke 12:46 that is translated as “cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with es wird ihm dreckig ergehen wie den Gottlosen or “it will be as miserable for him as for the sinners.”