The Greek in Acts 12:22 that is translated as “voice of a god” in English is translated as “God is speaking” in Lalana Chinantec, as “that one who is addressing us is God” in Teutila Cuicatec, or as “this is the word of God” in Tepeuxila Cuicatec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
lawyer, orator, spokesman
The Greek in Acts 24:1 that is translated as “spokesman,” “orator,” or “lawyer” in English is translated as “person who takes out the word of them” in Lalana Chinantec, as “settler” in Isthmus Mixe, as “one who speaks for another in court” in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac, as “accuser” in Eastern Highland Otomi, or as “one who brings charges” in Highland Popoluca. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
tried to reconcile them
The Greek in Acts 7:26 that is translated into English as “tried to reconcile them” or similar is translated as “wanted to calm the fight” in Coatlán Mixe, as “tried to fix their hearts” in Eastern Highland Otomi, as “wanted to join them in friendly fashion” in Metlatónoc Mixtec, and as “wanted that they come out good with peace” in Tepeuxila Cuicatec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
savior
The Greek that is translated as “savior” in English in translated the following ways:
- Laka: “one who takes us by the hand” (source: Nida 1952, p. 140)
- Toposa: “one who causes to live” (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101)
- Teutila Cuicatec: “one who saves those on this earth”
- Isthmus Mixe: “one who saves from save from sin”
- Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “a person who pardons people of their sins” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Noongar: Keny-Barranginy-Ngandabat or “One Bringing Life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
- Uma: “the King who lifts us from the punishment of our sins” (source: Uma Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “one who delivers us from punishment” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “one whom we hope/expect will do all we are waiting for” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “one who is the pledge of our assurance of salvation in the future.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Kâte: bâbâpiaŋ or “healer” (source: Renck 1990, p. 104)
- Tibetan: skyabs mgon (སྐྱབས་མགོན།), lit. “refuge + lord” (source: gSungrab website )
In various German and Dutch Bible translations, the term Heiland is used, which was introduced by Martin Luther in the 16th century and means “the healing one.” This term (as “Hælend”) was used in Old English as a translation for “Jesus” — see Swain 2019 and Jesus.
In American Sign Language it is signed with a sign describing releasing someone from bondage. (Source: Yates 2011, p. 52)
“Savior” in American Sign Language (source )
Samothrace
The Greek that is transliterated as “Samothrace” in English is translated more specifically as “the island of Samothrace” in some languages. Isthmus Mixe has “the land of Samothrace [which is] in the midst of the sea” and Eastern Highland Otomi uses “little land of Samothrace which sits in the water.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.) (See also Cyprus.)
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts the Winged Victory of Samothrace , a famous monument found in the island. (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Samothrace” in Libras (source )
More information under Samothrace .
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see this article in Christianity Today .
senseless minds were darkened
The Greek in Romans 1:21 that is translated as “senseless minds were darkened” or similar in English is translated as “stupid head-hearts became more stupid” in Yatzachi Zapotec, as “little by little their innermost came to sit dark” in Sierra de Juárez Zapotec, and as “now they walk in darkness” in Sayula Popoluca. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
contrary to nature
The Greek in Romans 11:24 that is translated as “contrary to nature” or similar in English is translated as “where you didn’t spring up” in Isthmus Zapotec, as “contrary to what you belong to” in Highland Totonac, and as “which is contrary to your normal way in that you are not the good branches of the good tree” in North Alaskan Inupiatun. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
conscience
The Hebrew and Greek that is rendered in English as “conscience” is translated into Aari as “our thoughts speak to us,” in Nuer it is “the knowledge of their heart” (source: Jan Sterk), in Cheke Holo “to know what is straight and what is wrong” (source: Carl Gross), in Chokwe “law of the heart” (source D.B. Long in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 135ff. ), in Toraja-Sa’dan penaa ma’pakilala or “the admonishing within” (source: H. van der Veen in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 21 ff. ), in Yatzachi Zapotec as “head-hearts,” in Tzeltal as “hearts” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), in Enlhet as “innermost,” in Northern Emberá as “thinking” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1975, p. 201ff. ), and in Elhomwe as “what reminds the heart” or “whole heart” (“since the idea of conscience is something that reminds the heart”) (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext).
In Warao it is translated with obojona, a term that “includes the concepts of consciousness, will, attitude, attention and a few other miscellaneous notions” (source: Henry Osborn in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 74ff. ). See other occurrences of Obojona in the Warao New Testament.
In Mbudum it is translated as “the heart that does not leap.” (Source: Ervais Fotso Noumsi in Le Sycomore, 16/1, 2022 )
See also conscience seared and perfect conscience / clear conscience, clear conscience towards God and all people, and brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.