The Greek term that means “one who is sent off” in its singular form and is usually transliterated as “apostle(s)” in English is (back-) translated in the following ways:
San Blas Kuna: “witnesses to God” (meaning “those who speak up and out for God” (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida, except Balanta-Kentohe: Rob Koops)
Mairasi: sasiri atatuemnev nesovnaa or “sent witnesses” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
Khmer: Christtout (“messenger representing Christ”) or when Jesus addresses them: Tout robas Preah Ang (“his messengers-representatives”) (source: Joseph Hong in The Bible Translator 1996, p. 233ff. )
Pwo Karen: “eyeballs” (i.e., “right-hand men”) (source: David Clark)
Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “one who goes about preaching the good word” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Noongar: Moorta Ngany Waangki-Koorl or “People I (Jesus) Send” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Ayutla Mixtec: “those who bore the word of God’s mouth”
Chichimeca-Jonaz: “elders messengers” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Yakan: “commissioned ones” (source: Yakan Back Translation) — note that Scot McKnight in the EnglishThe Second Testament (publ. 2023) translates it as commissioners
Tenango Otomi: “(Jesus’) representatives” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Tsamakko: “ones-who-work-for-Christ” (source: Chris Pluger)
Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as commissioner.
In American Sign Language it is translated with a combination of the signs for “following” plus the sign for “authority” to differentiate it from disciple. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“apostles” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that shows the shape of the beard, based on the common and general visual representation of the apostles. This sign differs from the sign for a beard as used in colloquial language. The sign of the apostle does not originate from a specific biblical verse, but rather from the cultural context and later ecclesiastical tradition. “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” Lev 19:27. In the biblical era, wearing a beard was the default social and religious norm among Jewish men. The Apostle Peter is generally depicted with a short, curly, white beard. The Apostle Paul appears with a longer, pointed beard. The Apostle John is an exception, as he was the youngest disciple. In iconography, he is often the only one painted without a beard (as a youth) to emphasize his purity and age (see for instance at Transfiguration (icon)). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
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
The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is transliterated “Levites” in English (only the Contemporary English Version translates it as “temple helpers”) is translated in Ojitlán Chinantec as “temple caretakers,” Yatzachi Zapotec as “people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of the Israelites,” in Alekano as “servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place,” and in Tenango Otomi as “helpers of priests.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
In American Sign Language with a sign that combines “temple” + “servant.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Levite” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 4:36:
Uma: “Yusuf also did thus. He sold his land and turned-over the buying money of his land to the apostles of Lord Yesus. That Yusuf was a Lewi person from the land of Siprus. The apostles of Lord Yesus also called him Barnabas. Its meaning, the one who strengthens hearts.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Na, there was a man there with them named Yusup, born there on the island Kiprus. He was a Yahudi, a descendant of Libi. The commissioned ones named him also Barnabas (meaning, a man who encourages the liver).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And there was one of them from Cyprus, a Jew also who was a descendant of the long ago person Levi, his name was Joseph, and the apostles titled him Barnabas which means he is able to give strength to our faith.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “That was exactly what Jose from-Cipre the descendant of Levi did. What the apostles called him was Barnabas, meaning one-who-strengthens the mind/thoughts of his companion.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Like a Levita who was Jose the taga Chipre, whom the apostles called Bernabe, which means, he was always encouraging the others.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Verses 36 and 37 constitute a particular instance of the immediately preceding generalized statement of the behavior of people in the believing community. At the same time these verses serve as an introduction to Barnabas and as a transition to the following story. It is, therefore, essential that this brief section be carefully structured so as to fulfill these important requirements in the discourse.
And so it was that translates a particle which Luke uses to indicate a transition in a narrative. It is rendered variously in different translations: “for instance” (New English Bible), “it was at this time” (Phillips), “there was a” (Jerusalem Bible), and it is not translated at all by An American Translation*.
A transition in a number of languages is “and so it happened that” or “and so it was with Joseph.”
One who Encourages is literally “a son of encouragement”; but the Semitic phrase “son of” is used to indicate the qualities or characteristics which distinguish a person. Evidently Barnabas had the gift for encouraging his fellow Christians (see 11.23 where a verb is used which comes from the same stem as this noun: he [Barnabas] was glad and urged [that is, “encouraged”] them all to be faithful…).
The heavy set of attributives to Joseph requires in many languages a series of closely related, complete sentences. He was not only a Levite, but he was born in Cyprus; the apostles called him Barnabas and, in addition, there is an explanation of what this name meant. In some languages such a series could be translated as “And so it happened with Joseph. This man was a Levite born in Cyprus. The apostles gave him the name Barnabas. (In their language the name meant ‘he is the One who Encourages.’)” It is understood, of course, that the term Levite will be explained in a glossary and that a map will be published with a translation of any book such as Acts so that people can identify where Cyprus is. In some languages a classifier such as “island” can be added to the term Cyprus, so as to give people some idea as to what this geographical proper name refers.
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 .
Joseph: As it is clear from the description of this man in this verse, he is a different man from the other Josephs in the Bible.
a Levite: This name indicates that he was a descendant of Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. God chose the Levites to be helpers at the temple. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
from the clan of Levi -or-
a descendant of Levi (God’s Word)
from Cyprus: This phrase is literally “of Cyprus by nation/kind.” It indicates that Joseph was born on the island of Cyprus.
4:36b
whom the apostles called Barnabas: This clause in Greek is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:
• As a passive clause. For example:
who was called Barnabas by the apostles
• As an active clause. For example:
and the apostles called him Barnabas (Contemporary English Version)
meaning Son of Encouragement: This phrase is a Hebrew idiom. It indicates that Barnabas often encouraged others. The phrase Son of does not indicate that he was the son of someone named Encouragement. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
which means “a person who encourages” (God’s Word) -or-
which means, he was always encouraging the others
Encouragement: This word means “to give someone hope, courage, or confidence.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:
strengthens the mind/thoughts -or-
able to give strength to our faith
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