Satan

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.)

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angel

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The Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic that is translated as “angel” in English versions is translated in many ways:

  • Pintupi-Luritja: ngaṉka ngurrara: “one who belongs in the sky” (source: Ken Hansen quoted in Steven 1984a, p. 116.)
  • Shipibo-Conibo: “word-carrier from heaven”
  • Tetela, Kpelle, Balinese, and Chinese: “heavenly messenger”
  • Shilluk: “spirit messenger”
  • Mashco Piro: “messenger of God”
  • Batak Toba: “envoy, messenger”
  • Navajo: “holy servant” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida 1961)
  • Central Mazahua: “God’s worker” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.)
  • Saramaccan: basia u Masa Gaangadu köndë or “messenger from God’s country” (source: Jabini 2015, p. 86)
  • Mairasi: atatnyev nyaa or “sent-one” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Shipibo-Conibo: “word bringer” (source: James Lauriault in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 32ff. )
  • Apali: “God’s one with talk from the head” (“basically God’s messenger since head refers to any leader’s talk”) (source: Martha Wade)
  • Michoacán Nahuatl: “clean helper of God” (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • Nyongar: Hdjin-djin-kwabba or “spirit good” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Iwaidja: “a man sent with a message” (Sam Freney explains the genesis of this term [in this article): “For example, in Darwin last year, as we were working on a new translation of Luke 2:6–12 in Iwaidja, a Northern Territory language, the translators had written ‘angel’ as ‘a man with eagle wings’. Even before getting to the question of whether this was an accurate term (or one that imported some other information in), the word for ‘eagle’ started getting discussed. One of the translators had her teenage granddaughter with her, and this word didn’t mean anything to her at all. She’d never heard of it, as it was an archaic term that younger people didn’t use anymore. They ended up changing the translation of ‘angel’ to something like ‘a man sent with a message’, which is both more accurate and clear.”)

See also angel (Acts 12:15).

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complete verse (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 11:14:

  • Uma: “But we (incl.) aren’t surprised by their behavior, for the King of Evil-ones also changes-himself to be like an angel who brings light.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This their doing does not cause wonder/is not amazing because even the leader of demons changes himself into the appearance of an angel.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This doesn’t surprise me because even Satan, he can change his form into what is like a very bright angel of God which comes from Heaven.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “We ought not to be surprised-at that, because even Satanas, he can appear as if he is a dazzling angel of God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It’s not necessary to be amazed at this deception of theirs, because they are just being-the-same as their boss who is Satanas. For as for this Satanas, even though he is the epitome of evil, he is deceiving people so that they will regard him as an angel coming from the light-place where God is.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It shouldn’t cause people to be surprised about this word which I say. Because the devil himself can change his appearance, becoming like an angel of heaven.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

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