The Greek 2 John 1:13 that is translated as “sister” in English is rendered “elder sister” in Kahua because the church associated with the apostle John was assumed to be senior.
See also sister (younger sister).
babbler
The Greek in Acts 17:18 that is translated into English as “babbler” is translated in a number of different ways:
- Fuyug: “birdbrain” (source: David Clark)
- San Mateo del Mar Huave: “man who does not know how to close his mouth”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “much-talker man”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “loud-mouthed fellow”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “person who does nothing but talk”
- Morelos Nahuatl: “man who talks so much” (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Low German: “know-it-all” (Klooksnaker) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006)
- Hausa: “owner of noise” (source: Hausa Common Language Bible Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “boaster” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- Mairasi: “guy know who talks out of his own thinking” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
For various English translations, see Translation commentary on Acts 17:18.
sea rose / sea grew rough (John 6:18)
sprinkle it with his finger
The Hebrew that is translated as “sprinkle it with his finger” is translated in Tibetan with a culturally equivalent. David Clark (in: Clark / Desnitsky 2009 , p. 24) explains: “The verb used in Tibetan for ‘sprinkle’ is very specific, and means ‘to flick with the third finger of the right hand.’ This is the verb used to describe what monks do when they make offerings involving liquids. The translator felt that the ad- vantages of using a word that fits precisely in the context of religious sacrifices outweighed any risk that the nature of Aaron’s ritual action might be misunderstood. The Hebrew text does not specify exactly how Aaron was to perform the sprinkling, so the implication that it was done with the third finger of the right hand was not considered significant enough to cause a problem.”
bad company ruins good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33)
This quotation in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that originated in Menander’s play Thais and is translated into some English versions as “bad company ruins good morals” is translated into Kilivila with a local proverb with the same meaning: “Don’t stand in the ways of a thief, or you will steal.”
in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28)
The Greek in Acts 17:28 that is translated into English as something like “in him we live and move and have our being” is expressed in Purari as “In him we stand up and sit down and lie down.”
Mary / Martha / Lazarus (relative age)
Many languages have terms for siblings that define whether one is younger or older in relation to another sibling.
In Fuyug, Tae’, Batak Toba, and Mandarin Chinese, Martha was assumed to be the older of the two sisters because she is mentioned first. (Sources: David Clark [Fuyug] and Reiling / Swellengrebel)
Navajo (Dinė) translates accordingly but for a different reason: “since Martha seemed to take the responsibility of the housework, she was probably the older of the two” (source: Wallis 2000, p. 103f.) whereas in Mandarin Chinese he is the younger brother.
In Fuyug, Lazarus is assumed to be the oldest sibling on the grounds that he died first, whereas in several Thai translations he is described as the youngest of the three. (Source: David Clark)
flattery
The term in 1 Thessalonians 2:5 that is rendered as “flattery” in English is translated with a Kahua idiom: “We did not bend our heads to please people (i.e., use flattery).” (Source: David Clark)
See also flattering lips.