The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “go in peace” into English is an idiomatic expression of farewell which is translatable in other languages as an idiomatic expression as well:
The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is usually translated into English as “peace,” when referring to one’s inner peace, is (back-) translated with a variety of idioms and phrases:
“rest the heart” (Central Mazahua) / “rest within” (Lacandon) (source: Nida 1952, p. 40 and 128ff.) / “wait well in your heart” (Yatzachi Zapotec) (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
The Greek that is translated as “go” (as party of the phrase “go in peace”) in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-iki (お行き), combining “go” (iki) with the respectful prefix o-. Also, kudasaru (くださる) is attached, a respectful form of a benefactive, emphasizing the respectful notion. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
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)
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 )
The following is a contemporary stained glass window from the Messiah Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota by Peter Dohmen. Individual glass pieces were made in Germany in accordance with Dohmen’s design, using a technique first developed by Irish monks in the 9th and 10th centuries.
“This window is dedicated to St. Paul, the great apostle and missionary, for whom our city is named. At the top of the window is a ship which symbolizes the many missionary journeys of Paul — the Church is our ship, which carries us over the way of life. In the lower section we see Paul on the road to Damascus when he saw a great light and heard our Lord’s voice, which called him to discipleship.”
Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 16:36:
Uma: “Hearing this, the head of the jail said to Paulus and Silas like this: ‘A command came from the rulers, telling me that you are to be freed. So, go and take-care / have-a-good-trip [traditional leave-taking].'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “The guard told this to Paul. He said, ‘The officials have sent word commanding that you be set free. So come out and may you have a good journey.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the watcher of the prison told this to Paul, and he said, ‘The Roman officials have commanded that you and Silas be set free, and you can go now, they say, but it is necessary that there is no trouble.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “So the guard said to Pablo, ‘The judges say that you (plural pronoun but singular meaning) and Silas are to be released. Go then, but please keep-quiet in leaving.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “And then the overseer told what had been said, saying to Pablo-and-companion, ‘The highest officials have sent some people saying to release you now. Therefore go happily now for you are free.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
For some languages there is an additional problem of discourse in relaying the orders of the Roman authorities. One may therefore translate: “So the jailer said to Paul, The officials have ordered me, Let those men go.” However, it is better to employ some indirect discourse, if at all possible, so as not to produce two levels of direct discourse. This may be done either as in the Good News Translation or as “So the jailer told Paul that the officials had sent an order saying, Let those men go.”
A literal translation into English of the words spoken by the jailer to Paul may be misleading—for example, “the officials have sent an order for you to be released.” In Greek this was no problem, since the plural form of “you” was used. To represent this meaning for the English reader, the Good News Translation has translated for you and Silas. Most translators seem to understand the expression go in peace in one of three ways: (1) “go quietly away,” that is, leave without making any further disturbance; (2) “go unmolested” (An American Translation*), that is, you may leave without any further punishment; (3) “blessings on your journey” (New English Bible), or “and all good things go with you” (Barclay), that is, the Roman officials wish the Jewish prisoners a safe and happy journey, which in the context seems rather strange. The appropriate interpretation of the Greek expression in peace is to be found in the manner in which Paul speaks of being sent away “secretly” (v. 37).
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 .
The magistrates have sent orders to release you: This clause in Greek is literally “The magistrates have sent that you(plur) be released.” For example:
The magistrates have sent to let you go (Revised Standard Version)
The magistrates ordered the jailer to release both Paul and Silas. The jailer told this message to Paul. Since English uses the same pronoun for you(sing) and you(plur), many English versions translate similarly to the New International Version for the correct meaning. For example:
The officials have sent an order for you and Silas to be released (Good News Translation)
In many languages the pronoun you(plur) is different than the pronoun you(sing), so a literal translation would be clear.
16:36c
Now you may go on your way in peace: The Greek words are literally “Having gone out, go in peace.” Leaving the prison introduces the main point of what the jailer wanted to say to Paul. He wanted him to go on his way in peace. For example:
Leaving here, go in peace.
But a literal translation of the Greek words is not very natural in English. So many English versions translate without using a verb ending in “-ing.” For example:
You may leave, then, and go in peace. (Good News Translation)
go on your way in peace: This refers to leaving the prison. This clause is the jailer’s own message to Paul and Silas. It was a common farewell expression. The jailer wanted God to grant peace to Paul.
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