The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Cyprus” in English is translated more specifically as “the island of Cyprus” in some languages. Eastern Highland Otomi for instance has “the land of Cyprus, the little land it sits in the water,” Morelos Nahuatl has “the land-rise of Cyprus,” or Lalana Chinantec has “land in the middle of the water which is called Cyprus.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts the shape of the island and “blossoming flower” (a possible meaning of the name). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The term that is transliterated as “Barnabas” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a combination of the signs for the letter B and “encourage” (referring to Acts 11:23). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Barnabas” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 15:39:
Uma: “From there, Paulus and Barnabas argued, with the result that they separated. Barnabas took Markus to be with him, and they boarded a ship to the land of Siprus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “The two really argued, therefore they separated. Barnabas took Markus along and they sailed to the island of Kiprus.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This caused a dispute between them. Therefore they separated, and as for Barnabas, he took Mark and he got on a boat and went to Cyprus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Then their argument was excessive, and they separated. Barnabas took-along Marcos, and they rode in a ship to go to Cyprus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Over that they really didn’t agree. Without anything further, they didn’t go together when they set out. Bernabe caused Marcos to accompany him when he sailed going to Chipre.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Isthmus Mixe: “They discussed but their minds did not meet each other. For that reason they separated. Then Barnabas took Mark with him. They entered a boat at the sea. Then they went to the land of Cyprus.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
The word which Luke has chosen to describe the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas originally meant, “an irritation,” but in this context something much stronger is indicated, that is, a sharp argument (see Jerusalem Bible “violent quarrel”). After the separation, Barnabas, who was originally from Cyprus (4.36), took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus.
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 .
Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company: Paul and Barnabas disagreed so much that they each went to different places. This verse does not say whether they became angry or not. Other ways to translate this clause are:
And there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other (Revised Standard Version) -or-
There was a sharp argument, and they separated: (Good News Translation)
15:39b
Cyprus: This name refers to a large island in the Mediterranean Sea west of Syria. It is 240 kilometers (150 miles) wide.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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