Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 15:54:
Uma: “For these bodies of ours that can die and become rotten must be changed to become bodies that have no death and that cannot become rotten. So, when these bodies of ours are indeed changed, at that time will come to pass the words written in the Holy Book long ago that say: ‘God has defeated death, there is no longer any death.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “When these our (incl.) bodies that eventually die are changed already so that they will no more die, then what is said in the holy-book is fulfilled, it says, ‘Nobody/nothing will anymore die because God has removed death.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when God makes us (incl.) immortal, we who are subject to death, we can no longer die and that word of God will come to pass which says, ‘There is no longer any death because God has already removed death.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “When that happens, that will be the fulfillment of what God caused-to-be-written which says, ‘Death will be thoroughly defeated and will cease-to-exist.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well, when this that perishes has been replaced by that which has no destruction, and when this body which dies has been replaced by one without death, what was said in the written word of God will be fulfilled which says, ‘Death has now been removed. The victory over it is now complete.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Our bodies now must die. But when they are changed then our bodies will be forever, they will not die. Then it will occur like it says in the Holy Book: ‘Concerning the death there is, it will lose its power, it will be conquered.” (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 Matthew 7:8:
Uma: “Because whoever asks is definitely given to. Whoever searches definitely receives. Whoever asks for the door to be opened, the door is definitely opened for him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “For all who ask will be given, the ones who seek will find and the ones who ask to be let in will be opened for.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because all who ask for something from God are able to receive. Those who are looking for something are able to find it. And he who calls out at the door, God also opens it for him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Because whoever (lit. even who) makes-requests to God will be given-to, and whoever searches will find what he is looking for. Also whoever knocks, the doorway will be opened for him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Because as-many-as request are given to. The ones who search can find. And as-many-as plead to be permitted to enter receive-a-favorable-response.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Because the person who asks for what he wants will be given it. He who hunts will find. He who knocks on the door will have it opened.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 1:4:
Uma: “He strengthens our (excl.) hearts in all kinds of difficulties that hit us (excl.), so that with the strength that we (excl.) receive from him, we (excl.) strengthen the hearts of others who are in difficulties of whatever kind.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Whatever our (excl.) trouble is he encourages us (excl.) so that we (excl.) also know how to encourage our (excl.) companions when they are in all kinds of troubles. We (excl.) can help them because we (excl.) have already experienced help from God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He helps us (incl.) in all of our (incl.) troubles and because of this, we (incl.) can help other people who have any kind of trouble. The help that we (incl.) give, it is just the same as that which God helped us (incl.).” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “He comforts us in all our hardships/sufferings so that we will also know-how to comfort our companions when they have whatever-kind of hardship and we will be able-to-help-them -with that same help of God to us.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “He really does not leave us alone in our hardships, but rather he comforts (lit. causes-to-be-happy) our mind/inner-being, so that we also can cause-to-be-happy whoever has hardship. For whatever God gives us by-which-to comfort our mind/inner-being, that is indeed what we can give our companions who are being hardshipped.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Each time we suffer, it is God who comforts our hearts. But he wants that we also will comfort the hearts of our fellow men when we see them suffer. Let us do to our fellow men just like God does to us, in that he comforts our hearts.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Highland Totonac: “He is the one who comforts us as we are in trouble, so that we too may comfort others who are found in whatever trouble the same comfort with which God has comforted us.” (Source: Herman Aschmann in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 171ff. )
Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:38:
Uma: “Yesus turned around, he saw them following him. He asked him: ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him: ‘Where are you (sing.) staying, Teacher?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “When Isa turned around, he saw the two following him. He asked them, he said, ‘What do you want (lit. what is your business)?’ They answered, they said, ‘Rabbi, (that means Teacher) where are you staying?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Jesus stopped and turned around, and he saw that they were coming with him, and he said, ‘Why are you following me?’ And they said, ‘Rabbi, (which is to say, Teacher) where do you live?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Jesus looking-back then, he saw the ones following him and he said to them, ‘Do you have something to ask?’ ‘Where are you (sing.) staying Rabbi?’ they said in reply. (The meaning of Rabbi, it is teacher.)” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Jesus turned-his-head and saw those two who were following after him. He asked them, ‘Where are you going? Seems like there’s something/someone you are looking for.’ They answered, ‘Excuse (us), Teacher, where are you staying?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Jesus turned and saw that they were following. He said, ‘What do you want?’ They said, ‘Teacher, where are you staying?'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 8:11:
Uma: “So, so that you know: in the future when God becomes King, many people who are not Yahudi people who will become his people/subjects. They come from the east and from the west, they sit happily together with Abraham, Ishak and Yakub, the ancestors of the Yahudi people long ago.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Listen, in the future many people from various tribes from countries in the east and west will sit and eat with Ibrahim, Isahak and Yakub there in the ruling/kingdom of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Don’t you forget this which I am saying to you, that many people who are not Jews, who will come from far away, from the side of where the sun rises and from the side where the sun sets, and they will eat together with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the future in the kingdom of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Think-about/remember this! There will be many who will be included in God’s ruling who are from the coming-out and going-away of the sun (idioms = east and west), and they will eat-with plural Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “This really is true which I will say to you, that many who are not Judio will come from all-different-places, from the east and the west, who will be companions of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the celebration in the kingdom of God in heaven.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “I tell you that many people who are not Jews will come from the direction the sun rises and from where the sun sets in order to sit together with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob to eat there where God rules in heaven.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 2:12:
Uma: “Continuing on, relatives, when I left the village of Efesus the other day, I went to take the News of Kristus to the village of Troas. Upon my arrival in Troas, the Lord opened a way/road for me to work there.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “So-then when I arrived in the town of Toroas to proclaim the good news about Isa Almasi, I saw that God had already prepared a way for me so that I could work for him there.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Brothers, when I went to the town of Troas to spread the Good News, I saw that the Lord had made a way for me to continue what He had given me to do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “All-right-then, when I arrived at Troas to preach the good news about Cristo, good (realization particle) was my opportunity that the Lord gave me to do that.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well, when I went to Troas and taught the Good News concerning Cristo there, the Lord really gave me an opportunity, so that I might do what I purposed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “I went to the city of Troas to speak the Good News about Christ. And God caused that it came out well concerning the word I spoke there.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 2:19:
Uma: “Yesus said: ‘Destroy/tear down this House of God, you will yourselves see it happen in three days that I build it up again.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Isa answered them, he said, ‘Tear down this temple and I will erect it again in three days.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus answered and he said, ‘Tear down this house and within three days I will raise it up again.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Jesus said, ‘Wreck this Temple so that I will again build it in three days.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Jesus answered, saying, ‘Destroy this building/house, and I will restore it in only three days.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘Wreck this church here, and in only three days I will build it up again.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
