The Greek in Hebrews 13:4 that is translated in English “let the marriage bed be kept undefiled” or similar is translated in Alekano as “do not spoil the marriage” (source: Deibler / Taylor 1977, p. 1077) and in Makonde as “trust marriage.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
exclusion of oneself with the use of non-first personal pronoun
In Alekano it is not possible to use a non-first person pronoun to not exclude oneself in those being referred to. “Thus in the translation of Romans chapter 9, when the apostle Paul speaks of the heritage of the Jews , he says, ‘they are God’s chosen people; he made them his sons . . . ‘ etc . This meant to the hearers that Paul was not a Jew; so the whole passage had to be recast using the first plural pronouns instead of the third plural.”
untie sandals
The Greek that is translated as “(not worthy to) untie sandals” or similar in English is translated in various ways:
- Awa: “because he is an important one, when he speaks I will be silent”
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “I am not worthy to be his servant”
- Alekano: “if unworthy I should even carry his burden, it would not be right”
- Tenango Otomi: “I don’t compare with him” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Ayutla Mixtec: “I am too unworthy to perform even the lowliest of tasks for him” (“to avoid the wrong meaning of playing a trick by tying the sandals”)
- Choapan Zapotec “I am not even important to carry his pack” (source for this and one above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
- Mairasi: “loosening the strap of His foot thing as His slave would do” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
- Bariai: “untie the string of his shoe, because he surpasses me very much” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “He is greater than I. I don’t compare with him.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): auf Knien die Riemen seiner Sandalen zu lösen or “to loosen the straps of his sandals on my knees.”
See also sandal (illustration)
for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all
The Greek in Titus 2:11 that is translated as “for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all” or similar in English is translated in Wahgi as “God saying like this, ‘I desire to save without reward all people,’ sent Christ.” Like many languages, Wahgi not allow for verbal nominalization where a verb can be turned into a noun.
In Ojitlán Chinantec it is translated as “for God has shown people how his heart is good to all people, so that He saves people.” (Source: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)
See also grace.
wise as serpents
The Greek in Matthew 10:16 that is translated in English as “wise as serpents” is translated in Bambam as “take-guard like a langkasi (= a small animal similar to a squirrel).”
Phil Campbell explains: “The Bambam people just could not connect with the snakes as being shrewd, but they have a lot of traditional folk tales of a shrewd squirrel-like-animal. We did add a footnote to explain the literal meaning in the original.”
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated with seid umsichtig wie die Schlangen unter dem Laub or “be as cautious as snakes under the leaves.” And the translators add in a footnote: “… that don’t expose themselves to danger directly.”
In Komba, the extended phrase that is translated in English as “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” was translated as “live without falsity and with wisdom and straightness” since “the picture was too strange.” (Source: Deibler / Taylor 1977, p. 1076f.)
no greater joy
The Greek in 3 John 1:4that is translated in English as “I have no greater joy” is translated in Sinasina is translated as “this happiness of mine surpasses all other happiness” since there is no comparative form (such as “greater”).
grace and truth
The Greek in John 1:14 that is translated as “grace and truth” in English is translated in Fasu as “He gave free big help and true talk.” Like many languages, Fasu does not allow for verbal nominalization where a verb can be turned into a noun.
Shipibo-Conibo translates it as “only having good thought, only having true words.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
See also grace.
Twin
When in the Greek text Thomas is also referred to with a term that is translated in English as “Twin,” it was dropped for the Siane translation because it was found that the word had a bad connotation for the Siane and it was not important for the understanding of the story.