soldier

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “soldier” in English didn’t have a direct equivalent in Enlhet so it was translated with “those that bind us” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 24ff. ) and in Noongar it is mammarapa-bakadjiny or “men of fighting” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

complete verse (Acts 27:32)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 27:32:

  • Uma: “That is why the soldiers cut that-which-tied the small boat, with the result that the small boat fell into the sea and was swept away.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So the soldiers cut the rope of the lifeboat so it would drift.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the soldiers cut the ropes that were tied onto the boat so that it might drift away.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So the soldiers severed the rope that held the small-boat so that the waves would run-off-with-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When the soldiers heard, they severed the rope tether of that tender. It was allowed to fall into the sea.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 27:32

The Good News Translation has made explicit the meaning of the ambiguous Greek phrase (literally “ropes of the boat”) by rendering ropes that held the boat. Let it go may be equivalent to “let it fall into the water” or “let it drift away.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 27:32

27:32

So: The Greek conjunction is literally “then.” But the context implies that 27:32 is the result of what Paul said, so the Berean Standard Bible translates it as So.

set it adrift: There are two ways to interpret the Greek verb:

(1) Here it means float away on its own. For example:

let it go (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, English Standard Version, NET Bible)

(2) Here it means fall. For example:

let it drop away (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the boat had already been lowered down to the sea in 27:30.

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