The Greek in 2 Timothy 2:19 that is translated as “bearing this inscription” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with so wie Backsteine einen Stempel tragen, trägt er den Abdruck von Gottes Siegel or “just as bricks bear a stamp, he bears the imprint of God’s seal.”
insulted him and shook their heads
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.
uneducated and ordinary men
The Greek in Acts 4:13 that is translated as “uneducated and ordinary men” or similar in English is translated in the following ways:
- Lalana Chinantec: “people who were not learned, humble people
- Morelos Nahuatl: “hadn’t studied a lot but were like anybody”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “had not studied long in school, truly ordinary people, that is not officials”
- Chuj: “they had never studied, they were plain people”
- Teutila Cuicatec: “were not from important families and didn’t know paper (= didn’t have education)”
- Totontepec Mixe: “they talked like people who plow” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Mairasi: “bees’ wax [i.e., ignorant], unschooled men” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
- German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): “can neither read nor write nor have they have received any official schooling”
purification
the second death
The Greek in Revelation 20:15 that is translated as “the second death” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as der zweite, endgültige und unwiderrufliche Tod or “the second, final and irrevocable death.”
See also second death.
If you are able!
laugh
lick his sores
The Greek in Luke 16:21 that is translated as “lick his sores” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with an seinen Wunden leckten und sie weiter verunreinigen or “licked at his wounds and further contaminated them.”