The Hebrew in Hosea 10:11 that is translated in English translations as “a trained heifer that loved to thresh” is translated into Afar as “As a camel that goes by its nose follows a person” (no threshing in Afar culture, but a camel with a rope around its mouth obediently follows the person leading it.)
stall
The phrase in Malachi 4:2 that is rendered as “go out from the stall” in some English translations is translated into Afar as ogok yifdigen rugaageh: “calves released from a tether” (nomads use tethers rather than stalls for animals).
pledge loyalty
The Hebrew in 2 Samuel 15:33 that is translated in English versions as “pledged their loyalty to Absalom,” or “the hearts have gone after Absalom” was translated into Afar as ‘Ku kabut gacennooh ko’lih rabenno’ ‘yaanam axcuk yenen.: “They were saying, ‘We will go with you and we will die with you.’ (Direct speech is used instead of general descriptions of speech acts. The pledge to even die with one’s leader in battle is a typical expression of loyalty.)
a man against his father and a daughter against her mother (Matthew 10:35)
In Afar the Greek in Matthew 10:35 that is translated into English as “a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother” is translated as lab-baxa kay abbah fillat, say-baxa tet inah fillat . . . umaaneh tittin amot haa’gida: “that a male child place on his father’s neck, (and) a female child on her mother’s neck . . . together on their heads for evil.” (Accusation is placing evil on the neck or head of the person.)
tingle
The Hebrew in Jeremiah 19:3 that is rendered in English versions as “the ears of everyone who hears of it (disaster) will tingle” is translated into Afar as “(disaster) that will make the bodies of the people who hear it perspire.” (A different bodily reaction associated with frightening news in Afar idiom.)
motion to
In Afar the term in John 13:24 that is translated into English as “motion to” is translated as minin cassa heeh: “signal with eyebrow.”
See also motion (to speak).
beautiful eyes (1 Samuel 16:12)
The Hebrew in 1 Samuel 16:12 that is translated as “beautiful eyes” in many English versions is translated into Anuak as “white eyes” (i.e. “big” eyes). Red eyes or small eyes are not considered to be attractive.
orphaned
In Afar the phrase in John 14:18 that is translated into English as “I will not leave you orphaned” is translated as abba akak rabe diidaale matakkaanay: “you will not become like bees whose father/leader has died.”
See also orphan.