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The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

Other translations include:

  • San Blas Kuna: “help the heart”
  • Laka: “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver”
  • Huautla Mazatec: “lift out on behalf of”
  • Anuak: “have life because of”
  • Central Mazahua: “be healed in the heart”
  • Baoulé: “save one’s head”
  • Guerrero Amuzgo: “come out well”
  • Northwestern Dinka: “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source for all above: Bratcher / Nida),
  • Matumbi: “rescue (from danger)” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
  • Noongar: barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • South Bolivian Quechua: “make to escape”
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand” (source for this and one above: Nida 1947, p. 222)
  • Bariai: “retrieve one back” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

See also salvation and save (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 8:41

For just as the farmer sows many seeds upon the ground and plants a multitude of seedlings, and yet not all that have been sown will come up in due season, and not all that were planted will take root; so also those who have been sown in the world will not all be saved: Here is a short parable along with its own interpretation in the last clause (compare Mark 4.3-8, 14-20). The conjunction For may be omitted (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). The farmer sows many seeds upon the ground and plants a multitude of seedlings is a poetic use of clauses having a similar meaning. The first clause refers to sowing seeds, and the second one to setting out young plants by hand, as someone would do with rice or other plants that are put into the ground by hand. Not all that have been sown will come up and not all that were planted will take root are also parallel clauses with a similar meaning. The first clause refers to seeds sprouting, and the second one to seedlings taking root. In due season may be translated “at the right time” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• A farmer may plant a lot of seeds or put many seedlings in the ground, but not all of them will take root when they should, or grow to maturity. That’s the way it is with the people who have been put in this world [or, whom God has put in this world]. Not all of them are going to be saved [or, he is not going to save many of them].”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.