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.
The Greek in John 16:27 that is translated as “for the Father himself loves you” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as weil der Vater für sein Liebe keinen Vermittler mehr braucht or “for the Father does not need a mediator for his love anymore.”
The Greek in Mark 8:2 that is translated as I have compassion” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with mir tut es weh or “it pains me.”
The Greek in Luke 5:22 that is translated as “perceived their questionings” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with las ihre Gedanken or “read their thoughts.”
The Greek that is translated as “come to bring peace” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with the slightly pejorative Friedensapostel or “peacemaker (lit: “apostle of peace”).”
The Greek in Acts 8:34 that is translated as “great grace” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with reicher Segen or “great (or: “rich”) blessing.” They explain: “Literally: ‘great grace.’ According to the context, however, it is not about justification, but a description of the ‘happiness’ of the church in Jerusalem. The word ‘grace’ in this context can then mean either: reputation, goodwill (among outsiders) — or God’s gracious blessing, which may well include prosperity. This is precisely this aspect that is described in verses 34-36.”
The Greek in Acts 21:23 that is translated as “under a vow” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with “made a Nazirite vow which means that they will temporarily refrain from cutting their hair and not drink wine.”
See also complete verse (Acts 21:26) and rite of purification.
The Greek that is translated as “those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as “he who sees himself as a goal will miss himself. But those who give themselves up for me can find themselves.”
