The Greek in Matthew 11:29 that is translated as “I am gentle and humble in heart” is translated in the 2008 Moba Yendu Kadapaaonn translation as “I am the owner of a warming heart and I humble myself.” While a direct translation of the expression “humble in heart” exists in Moba, “it emphasizes that the person who adopts this attitude has been assaulted or mistreated but remains calm instead of becoming angry.” Moba has a rich metaphorical library using the concept of “heart” (pal) it follows very different paradigms compared to Greek, Hebrew and English concepts. (Source: Bedouma Joseph Kobaike in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 3ff. )
be of one heart and soul
The Greek in Acts 4:32 that is translated as “be of one heart and soul” in English is translated in Elhomwe idiomatically as “agree in hearts and thoughts.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In the 2008 Moba Yendu Kadapaaonn translation “be of one heart” is translated as “(this who believed) had one mouth.” (Source: Bedouma Joseph Kobaike in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 3ff. )
In German, the idiom ein Herz und eine Seele (literally “one heart and one soul”) has become a widely-used idiom relating to a very close relationship. It was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Redewendungen aus der Bibel )
break heart
The Greek in Acts 21:13 that is translated as “break heart” in English is translated in Elhomwe idiomatically as “make the heart feel pain.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In the 2008 Moba Yendu Kadapaaonn translation it is translated as “diminish the fluid of my heart.” In Moba, “the word pal (‘heart’) is conceived as a container containing a liquid. The container and the liquid can undergo transformations like any container and its contents when subjected to external pressure. The metaphor of the heart applied to anger perfectly illustrates this image of a container and its contents subjected to strong heat. In Moba, anger is associated with heat. There are various degrees of anger that can be compared to what happens when a pot containing a liquid is put on the fire.” (Source: Bedouma Joseph Kobaike in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 3ff. )
hearts burning
The Greek in Luke 24:32 that is often translated as “Were not our hearts burning within us?” is translated as
- “a boiling comes to our hearts inside” in Marathi (an idiom for joy and enthusiasm)
- “drawn, as it were, our mind” in Balinese
- “hurt (i.e. longing) our hearts” in Ekari
- “something was-consuming in our-heart” in Tae’ (an idiom for “we were profoundly moved”) (source for this and above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
- “O, how sweet coolness did our hearts feel” in an early version of the Bible in Sranan Tongo. “The translator “did this to avoid misunderstanding. In Sranan Tongo, when one says ‘my heart is burning’ he means ‘I am angry.'” (Source: Janini 2015, p. 33)
- “Wasn’t it as rain coming down on us?” in Afar. “Heat is bad, rain is good in the desert.” (Source: Loren Bliese)
- “our interiors bubbled up” in Bariai (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- “Weren’t our hearts constricted within us?” in Khakas (source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )
In the 2008 Moba Yendu Kadapaaonn translation it is translated as “were not our hearts encouraged (literally: made strong)?” While Moba has a rich metaphorical library using the concept of “heart” (pal) it follows very different paradigms compared to Greek, Hebrew and English concepts. (Source: Bedouma Joseph Kobaike in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 3ff. .) (See also I hold you in my heart)
I hold you in my heart
The Greek in Philippians 1:7 that is translated as “I hold you in my heart” is translated in the 2008 Moba Yendu Kadapaaonn translation as “my heart burns for you,” since a direct translation “indicates resentment towards someone and therefore the opposite of what is said in this verse. Moba has a rich metaphorical library using the concept of “heart” (pal) it follows very different paradigms compared to Greek, Hebrew and English concepts. (Source: Bedouma Joseph Kobaike in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 3ff. )
See also hearts burning.
by grace you have been saved
The Greek that is translated in English as “by grace you have been saved” or similar is translated in Yatzachi Zapotec as “because God loves us he has saved us.” The change from the second person plural pronoun to the first person plural pronoun had to be made to include the writer in this verse, who in Yatzachi Zapotec would have otherwise been excluded. (Source: Inez Butler in Notes on Translation 16, 1965, p. 4-5)
This passive construct is translated in Mokole as “it is by his grace that you have found salvation.” Mokole grammar doesn’t know a passive voice and the translation has to therefore render anything that is passive in the Hebrew or Greek text with a grammatical subject. (Source: Hilary Deneufchâtel in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 21ff. )
do not let your hearts be troubled
The Greek in John 14:1 that is translated as “do not let your hearts be troubled” is translated in the 2008 Moba Yendu Kadapaaonn translation as “do not let your bile be confused.” (Source: Bedouma Joseph Kobaike in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 3ff. )
See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.
in former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind
The passive construct in Ephesians 3:5 that is translated in English with “in former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind” or similar is translated in Mokole as “the people of the past were not told the secret of this word.” Mokole grammar doesn’t know a passive voice and the translation has to therefore render anything that is passive in the Hebrew or Greek text with a grammatical subject. (Source: Hilary Deneufchâtel in Le Sycomore 17/1, 2024, p. 21ff. )