The Greek in John 1:8 that is translated as “to testify to the light” or similar in English is translated in Lalana Chinantec as “in order to tell people that the light of God had become visible.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
he loved them to the end
The Greek in John 13:1 that is translated as “he loved them to the end” or similar in English is translated as “there wasn’t any limit to his love” in Tenango Otomi. (Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
you shall not commit adultery
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated in English as “you shall not commit adultery” is translated in Toraja-Sa’dan with an established figure of speech: Da’ mupasandak salu lako rampanan kapa’ or “you shall not fathom the river of marriage” (i.e “approach the marriage relationship of another.”) (Source: H. van der Veen in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 21 ff. ).
In Hakha Chin the usual term for “adultery” applies only to women, so the translation in Hakha Chin is “do not take another man’s wife and do not commit adultery.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
See also adultery
bondage to decay
The Greek in Romans 8:21 that is translated as “bondage to decay” or similar in English is translated as “they continually die” in Highland Totonac, as “the hand of rottenness” Isthmus Zapotec, and as “every animal must die, every tree must decay, every herb must dry up” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
ruler
The Greek that is often translated as “ruler” in English has the option of various terms in Luang with different shades of meaning.
For Acts 16:22 and 17:6, maktorna lodna-hairi (“one who holds the rod and the flag”). “The focus of this term is on national or government authorities.”
For Mark 10:42, makkukma-kto’ma (“the one who pinches you”). “An unjust ruler.”
For Acts 4:26, maktorna-makrautu (“one who holds — one who scratches”). “The focus of this term is on the manpower a ruler controls, such as a large army.”
For Acts 5:31, maktoranreria krita o’tani-hairi wuwannu (“one who holds the octopus’s head – the flag’s top”). “This term refers to a ruler of the highest level. This is what God has raised up Jesus to be. The word ‘octopus’ in this natural doublet contains the idea of supreme control. An octopus has so many arms it can be in control of everything at the same time.”
Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.
son of encouragement
The Greek in Acts 4:36 that is translated as “son of encouragement” in English is translated as
- “one who makes people receive a helpful word” in Ojitlán Chinantec
- “the person who makes our hearts be at peace” in Lalana Chinantec
- “he will encourage us” in Isthmus Mixe
- “one who enlarges (encourages) hearts” in Chichimeca-Jonaz
- “one who comforts” in San Mateo del Mar Huave
- “one who consoles people” in Tzotzil
- “gives gladness to those who weep” in Desano (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- “The man who strengthens people’s interiors” in Bariai (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- “Child Who Turns Livers Good” in Mairasi (source: Enggavoter 2004)
- “owner of encouraging heart” in Hausa (source: Hausa Common Language Bible Back Translation)
See also Barnabas and encourage / comfort.
have the first fruits of the Spirit
The Greek in Romans 8:23 that is translated as “have the first fruits of the Spirit” or similar in English is translated as “the Spirit has begun to work in our hearts” in Tzeltal and as “received the Good Spirit of God so that therefore we should know well that a little later we should be completely saved” Central Tarahumara. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
spit upon
The Greek that is translated in English as “spit” is translated in Chipaya as “eject saliva” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.).
In Noongar it is narridja-kwarda or “spittle-throw” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
See also spit and touched and spit.