The Greek in Mark 7:19 that is translated as “heart” and “stomach” in English is translated in Elhomwe as “heart” and “body.” In Elhomwe the plural form for “heart” is the same word as the Elhomwe word for “stomach.” To avoid confusion decided to translate “body” instead of “stomach.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In the English translation of Pakaluk (2019) is is translated as heart and gut.
The Greek that is translated with “moved with compassion (or: pity)” in English is translated as “to see someone with sorrow” in Piro, “to suffer with someone” in Huastec, or “one’s mind to be as it were out of one” in Balinese (source: Bratcher / Nida).
The English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019) uses “was keenly affected” in Mark 1:41.
The Greek πρασιαὶ πρασιαὶ (prasiai prasiai) that is typically not directly translated in English (the UBS Handbook says: prasia (only here in the N.T.) meant originally ‘a garden plot’; when used as here it means ‘in orderly groups,’ ‘in rows,’ ‘in ranks’) is translated as “looking like flower beds set side to side” by Pakaluk (2019) (the complete verse: And they sat down in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty, looking like flower beds set side to side).
Palaluk explains (p. 108f.): “These are fascinating lines [verses 39 and 40]. Mark uses two idioms that occur only here in recorded Greek literature: “dinner parties, side by side” and “looking like flower beds set side to side.” The phrase for the first is sumposia sumposia. A symposium is literally a drinking party, though we would say dinner party. The phrase for the second is prasiai prasiai. A prasia is a flower bed. Mark repeats each word so that the position of the words in the sentence, side by side, is like the position of the things represented by the words, side by side. It is very clever. But notice this. Jesus commands the disciples to seat everyone in groups like dinner parties. But in following the command, the disciples seat everyone in groups of fifty or one hundred, in rectangular formations. The first sentence records the Lord’s command; the second is Peter’s [Mark’s assumed source for the gospel] vivid description of how it looked after the fact. The contrast between the two expressions shows that Jesus would leave the details to the disciples’ discretion as they followed his command. The apostles are given scope to set down definite realizations of what the Lord intends.”
Wuest (1961) and Blakwelder (1980) offer similar translations. While Ruden (2021) does not, she explains in a footnote (p. 23): “To depict this unconventional feast, outdoor terms are whimsically combined with terms for an ordinary indoor social gathering. The arrangement of the diners here is literally ‘drinking parties drinking parties,’ ‘on the green greenery,’ and ‘garden plots garden plots.’ Two are expressions like the modern Greek plai plai for ‘side by side.'”
The Greek κύκλῳ (kuklo) that is typically translated in English as “about among” or similar is translated by the English translations of Ruden (2020) and Pakaluk (2019) as circuit (“he made a circuit through the villages”). Pakaluk (p. 102) comments: “We glimpse again Christ’s method. He liked to teach on the Sabbath in the synagogue. Perhaps he went to a new village each week, teaching there on the Sabbath, spending the following days healing the sick, visiting farming communities, going to isolated spots to pray, and instructing his disciples. After a couple of months, he could repeat the circuit to provide accountability and deeper instruction.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 2:8:
Uma: “Actually Yesus knew what was in their thoughts. That is why he said: ‘Why are your thoughts like that?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Immediately Isa knew what they were thinking and he said to them, ‘Why are you questioning like that in your liver?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then Jesus understood that that was what was in their minds, and he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking like that?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But Jesus knew nevertheless that that was in their minds, and he said, ‘Why are you thinking that?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “But Jesus knew that which was in their minds. That’s why he said, ‘Why is like that in your minds?)” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Kim text for oral translation: “What is the easiest thing; it is that of saying to the paralysed: ‘Your sins have been forgiven’ or of saying ‘Get up, take your bed, go your going (go away)’?” (Source: Bayamy Tchande Awakde in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 23ff.)
English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019): “So Jesus — who knows immediately in his spirit that this is how they are thinking about themselves — says to them: ‘Why are you thinking those things?'”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 1:7:
Uma: “He spread this news: ‘After me will come one whose power is greater than me/mine. Even to kneel to undo his shoe I am not worthy.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “And he proclaimed like this: ‘There is (someone),’ he said, ‘coming after me, (who is) more powerful than I. I am not even worthy to bend down to loosen the string of his shoes.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then John preached to the people saying, ‘There is a person coming who will take my place. That person is very much greater than I, because even to take off his shoes, I am not yet worthy to be his servant.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “He was telling the many-people, ‘There is someone greater (lit. higher) than I who is following-me. And because of this greatness of his, I am not worthy to even untie the laces of his shoes.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “He was always saying when he was teaching, ‘The one following me will come who is far superior to me. Even to undo the tie of his footwear to remove them is not possible/acceptable for me to do, for his greatness/importance it really very much.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Shipibo-Conibo: “Then he told them a word: Back of me comes one surpassing me in strength. I am not equal, though I bend down, to untie his shoe string.” (Source: James Lauriault in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 32ff. )
Balinese: “Then he preached to the people as follows: ‘After me there comes one mightier than. Even to stoop down to loose the strings of His sandal I feel not fit at all.” (Source: J.L. Swellengrebel in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 75ff. )
English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019): “And he cried out, ‘Right behind me comes someone greater than I! I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen the tie on his sandals.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 1:41:
Uma: “Yesus’ love welled up seeing him. That is why he touched him and said to him: ‘[You] certainly may. I heal you (sing.)!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Isa had really pity on him. He stretched-out his hand and he touched the leper and said, ‘I really want to. You are now healed.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Jesus took pity on him and placed his hand on him and said, ‘It is very good to my breath. Be healed.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Jesus felt-pity and extended his hand/arm to place it on that man. Then he said, ‘I want to, be cleaned.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Jesus truly did pity him. He touched that person, speaking at the same time, saying, ‘I really want to. Right now, you will now get better!'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Shipibo-Conibo: “Then pitying him he extended his hand. Having extended it, he touched him. He said: I want to. Be arranged, he said.” (Source: James Lauriault in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 32ff. )
Balinese: “In His pity His mind was as it were taken out of Him, and then He stretched forth His hand, touched him and said: ‘So is my wish. Let your stain be taken away.'” (Source: J.L. Swellengrebel in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 75ff. )
English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019): “Well, Jesus was keenly affected, and, reaching out his hand, touched him. So he says to him, ‘I do so will. Be clean.'”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 2:28:
Uma: “So, I the Child of Mankind, I have authority to say what may be done on the worship day.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Therefore I, the Son of Mankind, have authority to say as to what is right to do on the day of-no-work.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because of this, I, the Older Sibling of Mankind, I am the one who has authority to say what is proper to do on the Day of Rest.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Therefore I who am Child of a Person am the one who has authority over what can be done on the day for-resting.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore as for even this Day of Rest, it is under my control who am the One From Heaven Born of Man/human.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019): “It follows that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath as well.'”
