blaspheme, blasphemy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is translated as “blasphemy” or “blaspheme” is translated in various forms:

Paul (icon)

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also Paul.

Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also Paul (icon).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Paul .

complete verse (Acts 13:45)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 13:45:

  • Uma: “But when the Yahudi people saw how many people were gathered, they became jealous. That is why they disparaged Paulus and contradicted all that he said.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But when some of the Yahudi saw the many people gathered, they were jealous and they contradicted what Paul said. They also insulted him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, when the Jews saw the many people, they were jealous, and they scorned what Paul had to say, and they insulted him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But the Jews, when they saw the many people, their jealousy was excessive. Therefore they spoke-evil-of Pablo while-simultaneously they opposed/contradicted what he was saying.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But as for the Jews, when they observed that very many had gathered who were not Jews, they became very jealous. Therefore, each thing Pablo said, they kept on disagreeing-violently and speaking-harshly.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 13:45

Most translators understand Luke to be saying that the people insulted Paul; but others take this to mean that they spoke evil things against Christ, that is, “blasphemy” (Jerusalem Bible, Zürcher Bibel; and “abuse” of New American Bible). The Greek verb may have either sense.

They spoke against what Paul was saying is, in many languages, equivalent to “they said, What Paul was saying is a lie.” To render insulted him one may simply say “they spoke bad things about Paul.” The emphasis of this clause seems to be simply that they not only spoke about what Paul said but they also spoke about him personally.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .