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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 9:7 - 9:8

In verses 7-8 it becomes clear that God is now the speaker. The pronouns my, I, and myself refer to him. Once again the writer makes no distinction between God and the angel who delivers God’s message.

And it shall be that every one who will be saved and will be able to escape …: And it shall be that may be rendered “It will happen that.” However, many translators will wish to omit this clause and begin verse 7 with “Every person who…” or “The people who…” (Contemporary English Version). Will be saved may be translated “I will save.” The verb escape implies escape from the destruction that awaits the unrighteous.

On account of his works, or on account of the faith by which he has believed: The author allows salvation for those with good works or for those who have faith.

A model for verse 7 based on Contemporary English Version is:

• “The people who will be saved from destruction will escape because they have done what is right or they have faith in me.

Another possible model is:

• “Some people will be saved [or, I will save some people]. They will escape destruction because they have performed good works or because they have put their trust in me.

Will survive the dangers that have been predicted: For the dangers that have been predicted, see 2 Esd 6.25 and 7.27.

And will see my salvation in my land and within my borders: My salvation refers to God saving his people (see Psa 91.16). My land and my borders refer to the land of Israel (compare 2 Esd 5.24; 13.48).

Which I have sanctified for myself from the beginning means that God set this particular land apart from all others as his own land, and by doing so sanctified it, made it holy.

An alternative model for verses 7-8 is:

• 7 God said to me, “Some people will be saved. They will escape destruction because they have performed good works or because they have put their trust in me. 8 These people will live through the dangers that are predicted for the end times, and will find safety in my land, inside borders that I have set apart from the beginning of time as holy [or, as my own].

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.