The Hebrew that is translated into English as “moving (or: hovering) over the (sur)face of the waters” is translated into Ebira as “(the spirit of God) stayed above the water doing NANANA [ideophone].” (Source: Rob Koops)
In Bari it is translated with bibirto, “which is used of a bird hovering over its nest or fluttering round a bunch of ripe bananas.” (Source: Source: P. Guillebaud in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 189ff.)
In Kutu it is translated as “spreading over the water” and in Nyamwezi as ku’elela: “to circle around slowly over water, without touching it.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated with “ruddy” in English is translated in Mandinka as “light-skinned.” “‘Light-skinned’ could be considered a cultural equivalent. Although there are a few people with reddish skin in Mandinka, this is not an attractive trait. The UBS Handbook (A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel by R.L. Omanson and J. Ellington) suggests that ‘ruddy’ may have referred to the hair, but medical people know that reddish hair is a sign of malnutrition.” (Source: Rob Koops)
In Vidunda it is translated as “healthy/strong” and in Kwere as “powerful” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “spirit” in English is translated in Kutu as loho yangu or “spirit which gives people life.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “buried in a good old age” in English is translated in Nyamwezi as u’lazyi’kwe visoga or “buried well,” an idiom that means one has died having lived a good/fulfilling life. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “flesh with its blood” in English is translated in Makonde as “flesh with the blood poured out after slaughtering the animal” to avoid insecurity about any blood left in flesh. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “regret” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “have sadness.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew that is translated as “Circumcise one’s heart” in English is translated in Kutu as “cleanse one’s heart.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
See also circumcise.
The Hebrew that is translated as “rained on Sodom and Gomorrah” in most English translations is translated in Mwera as “burned on Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
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)
See also become one flesh.
The Hebrew that is translated as “lightens my darkness” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “chasing the darkness away.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated as “cubit” or into a metric or imperial measurement in English is translated in Kutu and Nyamwezias makono or “armlength.” Since a cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, one armlength (measured from the center of the chest to the fingertips) equals two cubits or roughly 1 meter. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
In Klao it is converted into “hand spans” (app. 6 inches or 12 cm) and “finger spans” (app. 1 inch or 2 cm) (Source: Don Slager)
The Greek that is translated as “make a sacrifice of atonement” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “devote himself to be the sacrifice.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
See also propitiation / atoning sacrifice and sacrifice of atonement / expiation / propitiation.