seer

The Hebrew that is translated as “seer” in English is translated in Newari as “one who will say what will happen in the future” (source: Newari Back Translation).

In Mandarin Chinese it is translated as “one who sees beforehand” (xiānjiàn / 先见) compared to “prophet” as “one who knows beforehand” (xiānzhī / 先知). (Source: Zetzsche and Alex Shum)

In Wolof in these verses as boroom peeñu or “possessor of visions.” In contrast, “prophet” is translated with the established term Yonent (app. “Send one”). (Source: Marilyn Escher)

See also prophet.

orphan

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “orphan” in English is translated in Enlhet as “those who are gone past” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. ) and in Newari as “ones not having mother-father” (source: Newari Back Translation).

E.L. Greenstein (2019, p. 108) notes that, particularly in reference to Job 24:9 where the child is being nursed, that the Hebrew term “has the narrower meaning of “fatherless.”

See also orphaned.

mystery

The Greek, Ge’ez, and Aramaic that is translated as “mystery” in English is translated as “wisdom which was hidden” in Mezquital Otomi, as “that was not possible to be understood before” in Huehuetla Tepehua, as “which was not known in time past” in Central Tarahumara (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), and in Newari as “hidden meaning” or “hidden matter” (source: Newari Back Translation).

complete verse (Genesis 24:65)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:65:

  • Kankanaey: “and she asked-for-information from the slave, ‘Who is that man who is approaching to meet-us?’ ‘The child of my master,’ he said answering. Therefore Rebeka covered her face with a head-cloth, because that was the custom of young-ladies there.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then she asked Abraham’s servant — ‘Who is [that] man coming from over there?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and asked the servant of Abraham, ‘Who is that man in the field who is-approaching us (excl.)?’ The servant answered, ‘He is my master Isaac.’ Therefore Rebeka covered her face with a veil.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man who is approaching?’ The servant replied, ‘That is Isaac, my master, the man you will be marrying.’ So she took her veil and covered her face, which was the custom for a woman who was about to be married.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

mighty arm

The Hebrew that is translated as “mighty arm” in English is translated in Newari as “the strongest arm of all” (source: Newari Back Translation).

complete verse (Genesis 28:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 28:15:

  • Kankanaey: “It is moreover utterly true that I will be with you (sing.) continually so-that I will take-care-of you (sing.) wherever (lit. even-if where) you-(sing.)-go. Then I will also escort you (sing.) to return to this country here. I will not moreover leave/abandon you (sing.), but rather I will fulfill all that I promised to you (sing.),’ God said.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “I am with you. No matter where you go I will be caring for you. And I will bring you back here. I will not leave you until the work of [my] promise to you has been fulfilled.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Always remember that I am-with you and I will-watch-over you wherever you go. I will-have- you -return to this land and I will- not -leave you until I have-fulfilled my promise to you.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “I will help you and protect you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you; I will continue to do for you all that I have promised to do.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

discharge

The Hebrew that is translated as “discharge” or similar in English is translated in Kalanga with tjigwele, a term that refers to sexually transmitted diseases. (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Kwere, the term ufila is used which implies pus (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Newari it is translated as “disease of the semen.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)