Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:28:
Huehuetla Tepehua: “Rather I will say, ‘Let people say that you are great.’ And when Jesus said this, that is when a word came from heaven which said. . . “
Yatzachi Zapotec: “Then he prayed, ‘Father, cause yourself to receive more honor.’ Then God who is in heaven spoke, saying to him, ‘I have caused myself to receive honor, and I will cause myself to receive more honor.'”
Lalana Chinantec: “‘My Father, do what is necessary so that people will worship you.’ That’s what Jesus said. So God spoke from heaven. He said, ‘I have done what is necessary so that people will worship me. I will also do it again,’ he said.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Uma: “I say like this: Father, make big your name(s)!’ From there, there was someone who spoke from the sky saying to Yesus: ‘I have already made big my name, and I will make it big again.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “So-then Isa spoke to God, he said, ‘O Father, honor/make great your name.’ Immediately there was a voice from the sky saying, ‘I have already honored/made great my name and I will make it great/honor it again.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Jesus said to his Father God, he said, ‘Father, show the people your great power.’ And then there was a word which came from heaven which said, ‘I have already shown my power by means of you, and I will show it again.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Then he said to God, ‘Father, please show your (sing.) godhood so that your (sing.) name will be honored.’ And there was a voice from heaven that said, ‘I have already shown-it and I will show-it again.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “When Jesus had said that, he said, ‘Father, show the big-size of your praiseworthiness/glory.’ There was a voice which the people heard, coming from heaven, which said, ‘I have already shown it, but I will show again my praiseworthiness/glory.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Then he said, ‘My Father. May it be known that you are the greatest.’ Then it was heard from above, ‘I have caused it to be known that I am the greatest. And again I will cause it to be known that I am the greatest.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:8:
Lalana Chinantec: “‘The wind blows just wherever it wants to. We hear the sound but we do not know where it comes from. We do not know where it is going. And that is what the person whom the great Spirit of God has caused to be alive is like. It is evident that he is alive, even though we do not know how it is that that has happened.’ That’s what Jesus said to Nicodemus.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Uma: “For example wind, it blows wherever it goes. We just hear its rustling, we do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So also with a person who is born from/by the power of the Spirit of God.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “‘An example/a figure is the wind. The wind blows wherever it wants to. It is not known where the wind comes from or where it goes to but you hear it’s sound. Like that is also a person when he is born from the Spirit of God, it is not known as to how (it happens) but (that it is) true.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the wind, it goes just any old where, and we can tell because we can hear its noise. But we cannot tell where it comes from or where it’s going. It is the same way also with the power of the Holy Spirit in a person who is born by means of his power because this cannot be understood by a mere person.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Because even though the way it happens can not be understood, it happens nonetheless. It’s like the wind. We don’t know where-it-comes-from and where-it-goes, because what it does is up-to-it, but we feel-it nevertheless. It’s the same with all who are born by the Holy Spirit.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Consider this. The wind blows wherever it wishes. We can hear the rustle and see the movement of things it is blowing, like a sign of its strength. But we can’t see this wind. We don’t know where it is going and where it came from. Well, it’s like that indeed when someone is given birth to by the Espiritu Santo. For the work/activity of the Espiritu Santo, it’s just like the activity of the wind. We can’t control him and we can’t see him. We can only see natures/ways he has made new in people who have been given birth to again.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “You know that the wind goes anywhere it wants to go. You hear it blowing but you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes. In like manner the Holy Spirit who gives new life to people, you do not see.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 17:10:
Chol: “All who belong to you also are mine. All who are mine are yours. My greatness has been shown in the believers.”
Mezquital Otomi: “All mine are yours and all yours are mine. We own them together. My glory appears in them.”
Yatzachi Zapotec: “And all the people who follow me are your children. And thus it is, whoever are your children are also my children. I receive honor because of what they do.”
Central Pame: “. . . It is apparent that I am glorious when the people I rule live righteously.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Uma: “All people who are my portion are your (sing.) portion, Father. And all people who are your (sing.) portion are my portion. They are the ones who show the bigness of my life.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “All that are/is mine are/is yours and all that are/is yours are/is mine. And I am honored/made great by them, because they trust in me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for the people who belong to you, they are mine also, and all that are mine are yours also. And by means of them my power is known.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Because all that-is/who-are mine is/are yours (sing.), and what is/are yours (sing.), is/are likewise also mine. And I am already being-honored/praised by-means-of them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “All the ones who are mine, these are indeed yours, and all who are yours, they’re mine too. And my glory is apparent in/to them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “All those who are in my hand are in your hand. Those who are in your hand are in my hand. I will be looked upon favorably because of them.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:5:
Huehuetla Tepehua: “That one who gives understanding to the minds of men, he was like a light that shines where it is dark. But the one who walks where it is dark (the devil) couldn’t overcome him.”
Ojitlán Chinantec: “For people are in the evil way, as if to say, they are in darkness. But he illuminates people. The evil one did not prevail over that one who illuminates people.”
Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “He is like a light which illuminates where it is dark. And the devil, he is of the darkness but he cannot conquer the light.”
Yatzachi Zapotec: “The person who is the word has light for the hearts of mankind. Even though there is very much evil in this world where he arrived, the evil did not shut off his light.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Chol: “The light of the world shows itself in the midst of a very dark world. This very dark world was not able to put out the light.” Wilbur Aulie (in The Bible Translator 1957, p. 109ff. ) explains the use of “put out the light” (click here to display)
“The problem of multiple meanings is often involved in the rendering of figures. Some hold that Greek katelaben in John 1:5 means both ‘to grasp with the mind’ (i.e., ‘to comprehend’) and ‘to grasp with the hand’ (i.e., to overcome’). Many translators are obliged to make a choice here. In Chol there is no choice, since the darkness cannot comprehend, even metaphorically speaking. It was therefore rendered: ‘The darkness did not put out the light’.”
Uma: “That light shone/shines in the darkness, and the darkness was/is not able to kill it/him [NOTE: The verb ‘kill’ can be used of putting out a light or fire]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “This light shines in darkness and the light can really not be put out by the darkness.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That light has illumined the darkness here upon the earth, and the light was not defeated by this darkness.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “He has-been-steadily-illuminating the darkness, and the darkness, it is not able-to-defeat the light.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “He gives-light/makes-clear like a light/lamp in darkness, but those who are in darkness, they don’t want to be shined-on by this light.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “The light shines in darkness and it is not able to be put out.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “This light lightens the darkness, and its light was not overcome by darkness. ” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Mairasi: “That is the true Light which already arrived in this world to brighten people.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)
Bariai: “The light shined in the dark place, yet it wasn’t possible for the darkness to surpass that light.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Kupsabiny: “That light shines in the darkness and that darkness doesn’t swallow (the) light.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 6:63:
Ojitlán Chinantec: “People live because their spirit is in them. A person’s flesh is worthless if the spirit is absent from the body. Those words that I told you give eternal life, the way a person’s spirit gives him natural life.”
Huehuetla Tepehua: “Well, the Holy Spirit, he is the one who gives eternal life. The life of just men can’t give life everlasting up in heaven. The words that I declare unto you are for your heart, and they give life everlasting.”
Chol: “That which is for our spirits gives us our lives. That which is for our body does not give us that. My words that I told you are for your spirit. They give you your life.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Uma: “It is the Spirit of God who gives life. The power/authority of man is useless. The words which I spoke to you come from the Spirit of God and give life.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “I tell you,’ said Isa, ‘it is God’s Spirit hep that causes us (incl.) to live. As for the power/strength of mankind there is no use (in it), it cannot make mankind alive. What I have taught to you causes life because this comes out from the Spirit of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The only one who can give life forever is the Holy Spirit. There is nothing that a body alone can do. The words which I said to you come from the Holy Spirit, and they can give life forver.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “The one who gives life, it is God’s Spirit, not the body. The body is of no use there. As for what I have been saying to you, they are from God’s Spirit, so exactly that is what gives life, provided you believe.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “These things that I am teaching, what they all come down to is (lit. there’s no other returning-place than) things concerning the spirit and life which is without ending. It’s true, the things referred to (lit. being caused to be hit) in this teaching of mine, those are from where this life can be gotten. It can’t be gotten from flesh which is eaten.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Only the Holy Spirit gives the new life. That which I told you means that you should believe in me, not that I was saying that you should eat me.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 4:8:
Uma: “People who don’t love others, they do not yet know God, for God, he is loving.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “He who does not love does not know God, because God really loves hep.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Anyone who has no love for his companions, know nothing at all about the actions of God, for every act of God is His showing His love.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But the one who has no love for his fellow, neither does he know God, for God is consistently-loving.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “But the one who doesn’t value like this, that one doesn’t yet know/acknowledge God, because God really is the one who is the source of this valuing.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “He who does not love his fellowman is not acquainted with God, because God loves all people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we do not love our fellows we are not yet acquainted with God, because we do not do like God does. God loves mankind.”
Eastern Highland Otomi: “But he who has no love, doesn’t know God, because God is love (lover).”
Tzotzil: “If we do not take on the character of a lover it is because we do not know God. Because God has the character of a lover (or God’s character is to habitually love).” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:19:
Uma: “Like this the testimony of Yohanes the Baptizer saying who Yesus is. The rulers of the Yahudi people in Yerusalem sent several priests and Lewi people to Yohanes. When they arrived at Yohanes, they asked: ‘The reason we (excl.) have come, is to ask you (sing.) who you (sing.) are. Are you (sing.) really the Redeemer King? ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “One day priests and helpers of the priests who were told-to-do-so by the leaders of the Yahudi in the city Awrusalam went to Yahiya to ask him who he was.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There were some people, priests and descendants of Levi, who came to John the Baptist. They were sent by the leaders of the Jews from Jerusalem so that they might ask John who he was.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “On one-occasion, there were priests and descendants of Levi who went to where Juan was. The leaders of the Judio (Jews) in Jerusalem sent them to go inquire of Juan as to who he was.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Once there were some sent by the leaders of the Jews who were taga Jerusalem. The ones they sent were priests and Levita who were their helpers, the workers in the Templo, because they were being caused to ask Juan what he was. This is the testimony of Juan which was his answer to them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “The Jews who were leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and their helpers. These went to John to question him about who he was.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Yatzachi Zapotec: “The important people of our nation of Israel in Jerusalem sent some priests to the man named John, along with some other people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of us Israelites. They sent the people to John in order that they might know who he was.”
Alekano: “When the Jews sent priests and those who were servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place, when they went to John and asked him saying, ‘Who are you? Are you the Messiah?’, he told them his own character.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:40:
Asháninka: “He will cause them to be blind; he will erase from them their understanding, lest they see, lest they know, lest they turn to me, lest I save them.”
Huehuetla Tepehua: “God made the men blind in their understanding, and he made their hearts hard. In that way they couldn’t understand with their understanding, and they couldn’t believe anything in their hearts, and they couldn’t think differently in their hearts so that I could make their hearts better.”
Yatzachi Zapotec: “God has caused the hearts of these people to be unresponsive, so that they are unheeding. He has caused them to see but not to realize what that which they are seeing means, and to hear but not to understand what that which they are hearing means. They would perhaps repent of their sins and permit God to renew their hearts if they understood it and if they realized what it meant.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Uma: “‘The Lord God says: ‘I purposely made them blind, so they couldn’t see. I made their hearts hard, so their hearts were not clear. That’s why they won’t be given goodness [salvation] by me.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “‘Their eyes are made blind by God so that they do not see, and he made their minds dull so that they do not understand. So-then their livers are not changed, says God, therefore I do not take their sins away.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Isaiah also said, ‘As for God, he caused them to become blind so they couldn’t see. He also caused that their breaths become hard so that they may not believe because they might give up evil and call on him for help.’ That’s why they didn’t believe in Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “‘God has blinded them and has hardened their minds lest they be able-to-see and able-to-understand and they face him so that he will heal them.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “‘He blinded their eyes and he made their heads hard so that they wouldn’t be able to see or understand, or be able to return to him so that he might make them well.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “‘God covered their sight in order that they would not see with their eyes. And he covered their hearts in order that their hearts would not find (understand) how the word is. And their hearts won’t change to follow God, so that he won’t forgive them.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
