The Greek that is typically transliterated in English as “Satan” is transliterated in Kipsigis as “Setani.” This is interesting because it is not only a transliteration that approximates the Greek sound but it is also an existing Kipsigis word with the meaning of “ugly” and “sneaking.” (Source: Earl Anderson in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 85ff. )
In Morelos Nahuatl it is translated as “envious one” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.) and in Tibetan: bdud (བདུད།), lit. “chief devil” (except in Rev. 20:2, where it is transliterated) (source: gSungrab website ).
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 5:15:
Uma: “The reason I say this is because there are some widows who no longer follow the desire/will of Kristus, they are following the desire/will of the King of Evil-ones.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Because there are already widows who have turned their backs on God and the one whom they follow/obey is the leader of demons.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason I say this is because there are widow women who have abandoned their following Christ, and they have submitted themselves to Satan.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “This is what I instruct, because there are some widows who have already gone-astray to follow Satanas.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “I’m having to talk like this because several widows have already dropped/given-up their belief now. Well there’s nothing else but that they’re again under the jurisdiction of Satanas.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Because there are some widows who have already gone apart, they are now doing the devil’s will.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
For some may also be expressed as “For some of the younger widows.”
It is urgent for younger widows to remarry, have children, and manage their households in order to prevent them from falling into the clutches of Satan; some in fact have already done so: they have already strayed after Satan. Strayed translates a word that already occurs in 1.6, where it is rendered “wandered away.” For Satan see 1.20.
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
For: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For is a conjunction, gar. This conjunction indicates that 5:15 is a reason for Paul’s instruction in 5:14.
some: That is, some of the younger widows.
already: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as already is the first word in the verse, and so it is being emphasized. This emphasis indicates that this verse is a warning. Paul was warning Timothy that some widows were already starting to follow Satan. So his instructions in 5:14 were very important.
turned aside to follow Satan: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as turned aside to follow Satan literally means “turned away after Satan.” Paul meant that some of the younger widows had stopped obeying God. They were now doing things that Satan wanted them to do.
Satan: Satan is the supreme evil spiritual being who leads and directs all other evil spiritual beings. In other parts of the New Testament he is referred to as “the devil” or “the Evil One.”
Satan is a proper name. So keep that name in your translation if you can. However, in some languages, it may be necessary to explain that he is the chief of the evil spirits. Also see the note on 1:20b.
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.
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