“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)
In the 2008 MobaYendu 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)
The Hebrew in Jeremiah 18:23 that is rendered in English as “let them be overthrown (or: tripped) before you” is translated into Afar as “make them as a tree eaten by termites. When you are angry don’t be merciful.” Termites are a big problem destroying wood in the Afar region. (Source: Loren Bliese)
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).
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.)
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.)
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.)
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.
