For more information see https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Berger_(Theologe)
The Greek in Revelation 12:5 that is translated as “snatched away” or similar in English is translated in Elhomwe idiomatically as “snatched from the hands of the mother.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated with entrücken or “transported (often used with a spiritual application).”
The Greek in John 18:38 that is translated into English as “What is truth?” is translated into Dogrib (Tłı̨chǫ) as Nàowo ehkw’ıı ayìı welè?: “What may the truth be anyway?”
Dwayne Janke (in Word Alive 2003, p. 16 ) tells the story of this translation:
“One challenging passage is John 18:37–38, where Christ tells Pontius Pilate that everyone on the side of truth listens to Him. In response, Pilate asks, ‘What is truth?’ and walks away.
“Jaap [Feenstra, an SIL translation consultant] turns to Alice [Sangris, a Dogrib co-worker for translation verification] after reading the verses. ‘Why, Alice, would he say, Nàowo ehkw’ıı ayìı awèidi? “What do you mean with truth?’?’
“Alice seems unsure. But after Marie Louise [Bouvier-White, a Dogrib translator] reads the verses again, Alice says, that to her, Pilate is asking a genuine question.
“‘It’s supposed to be a rhetorical question,’ Jaap replies. ‘Pilate is saying. We don’t even know what truth is.’
“Marie Louise catches onto the concept: ‘Pilate went out (of the room) because ‘truth’ doesn’t mean anything to him.’
“Mary [Siemens, another Dogrib translator] offers an optional wording that makes the Dogrib translation of Pilate’s question more sarcastic in tone. The group discusses and tweaks the phrasing, until in Dogrib it says: ‘What may the truth be anyway?'”
The German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) says Was ist denn die wahre Wirklichkeit? or “What then is the real truth (or: “true reality”).”
The Greek in 1 Peter 1:12 that is translated as “into which angels long to look” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as “even the angels lean forward from heaven with great longing to catch a glimpse of it.”
The Greek that is translated as “angel with a golden censer” or similar in English in Revelation 8:3 is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as ein Engel füllte Feuerbrand in sein goldenes Räucherfass or “an angel filled fire into his golden censer.”
In Revelation 8:5, what is translated in English as “the angel took the censer and filled it with fire” is translated as der Engel nahm das leergebrannte Räucherfass [und] füllte es erneut mit Feuerbrand or “the angel took the burnt-out censer and filled it once again with fire.”
The translators are attempting to close a logical gap in the text (i.e., there can only be smoke in Revelation 8:3 if there is fire in the censer).
The Greek that is translated as “cross” or similar in English when metaphorically or actually referring to what needed to be carried to the place of crucifixion is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as Querbalken des Kreuzes or “crossbar of the cross.” Berger/Nord (p. 432) explain: “The cross consisted of a vertical pole that was tightly anchored in the ground, on which a crossbar had to be fastened. The crossbar had to be carried to the place of execution by the delinquents themselves.”
See also cross and take up their cross.
The Greek in Romans 12:13 that is translated as “practice hospitality” or similar in English is translated as “treat strangers kindly” in Yatzachi Zapotec, as “be brotherly to those who want to stay a while in your houses” in Huehuetla Tepehua, as “open up your houses that those who come on the road should enter” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui, as “show the goodness of your heart to as many as arrive at your houses” in Tzeltal, and as “give rest to people” in Mezquital Otomi. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with Gastfreundschaft sei euer höchstes Ziel or “let hospitality be your most important goal.”
See also hospitality and hospitable.
The Greek that is translated as “tomb” in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as Felsengrab or ” tomb hewn out of rock” at every first mention in each of the gospels.
The Greek in John 20:11 that is translated as “As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as (Maria) weinte bitterlich, von Kummer und Schmerz gebeugt or “(Mary) cried bitterly, bent over with grief and pain.”
Berger/Nord (p. 24) explain: “The open question with [the traditional] translations is why a woman who cries suddenly bends over so that she can see through the low-set opening of the tomb, deep into the interior of the tomb where the two angels sit. We know that the bent back was part of the mourning ritual of antique Judaism and therefore [the translation above] makes the connection between the mourning and seeing the angels anatomically understandable.”