sheave

The phrase in Amos 2:13 that is rendered in English translations as “as a cart presses down when it is full of sheaves” is translated into Afar as qari elle qilsa faras-gaari innah: “as heavy as a horse cart with a house on it.” (Pastoral economy has no sheaves, houses are normally torn down and loaded on camels for migration.)

humble (verb)

The Greek that is translated as “humbled” in English is rendered in Gumuz as “become small” (source: Loren Bliese), in Uma as “make hearts low” (“proud,” the opposite is translated as proud “make hearts high”) (source: Uma Back Translation), and in Cherokee as “prayerful” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 38).

mount up with wings like eagles

The phrase in Isaiah 40:31 that is translated in English versions as “mount up with wings like eagles” is translated into Afar as gabilleema’nnal haadelon. Qaafiyatah danan yakken: “they will fly like eagles; as for health they will become donkeys.” (Added donkey as a known metaphor of strength since eagles are not known for strength.) (Source: Loren Bliese)

servant honors master

In Afar the phrase in Malachi 1:6 that is rendered in English translations as “a servant honours his master” is translated as saq-duwayti akah taamita num yassakaxxeh: “the one who herds animals honors the man he works for.” (The closest thing to a servant is someone contracted to herd animals.)

your bone and your flesh

The Hebrew that is translated in English as “I am your bone and your flesh” (or: “my bone and my flesh”) is translated into Afar as anu sin qabalaay sin nabsi kinniyo: “I am your blood and body.” (Source: Loren Bliese)

It is translated likewise in Kutu and in Kwere. In Vidunda, it is translated as “family.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Elhomwe it is translated with the idiomatic mbalaaka, literally “of my knee.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also become one flesh and our body.

lusty stallions

The phrase in Jeremiah 5:8 that is rendered into English translations as “they were well-fed lusty stallions” is translated into Afar as Yessemeeqe rakuubuy alal radam faxaah muxahiyya yekken.: “they became well-fed male camels making rumbling sounds (in their throats) in their desire to mount a female camel.” (On “stallion,” see also the story here.)

In the Hausa Common Language Bible the “stallion” is a bunsuru or “he-goat,” since horses are not well-known. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)