Cephas

The Greek that is transliterated “Cephas” in English — and is an alternative name for Peter — is transliterated in Mandarin Chinese Protestant translations as jīfǎ (traditional Chinese: 磯法, simplified Chinese: 矶法). The first character jī (磯 / 矶) is not only chosen because of its sound but also because of its meaning: “rock,” corresponding to the meaning of the Aramaic kēp̄ā (כֵּיפָא), to which the Greek Kēphâs (Κηφᾶς) refers and also alluding to Jesus’ proclamation in Matthew 16:18 (see Peter – rock).

Note that Catholic Chinese versions don’t follow the English pronunciation of “Cephas” with its opening [s] sound. They use kēfǎ (刻法) transliterating the [k] sound from the Aramaic and Greek. Kēfǎ does not carry the additional meaning of “rock.” (Source: Jost Zetzsche)

In the Neo-Aramaic language of Assyrian the terms used for both “Peter” (English transliteration of the Greek “πετρος”) and “Cephas” are identical (كِيپَا, pronounced kēpā). (Source: Ken Bunge)

The passage in John 1:42 (“You are to be called Cephas (which is translated Peter)” in English) is solved by various translations like this: “‘I am going to name you Cephas.’ Cephas means ‘Peter.’ Both mean ‘rock.'” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “I am naming you Cephas. ‘Cephas’ in the Jews’ language, ‘Peter’ in the Greek language, the meaning being ‘stone’.” (Alekano), “You will become known as Cephas,’ he said, which in our language means ‘rock.'” (Chol), or “You will be called Cephas and also Peter.” Tenango Otomi. (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

See also Peter – rock.

complete verse (Galatians 1:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 1:18:

  • Uma: “It was three years after that, that I finally did go to Yerusalem to meet with Petrus, I stayed with him for two weeks.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Three years finished/were-over only then did I go to Awrusalam to see Petros and there I was with him two weeks.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And three years after that I finally went to the town of Jerusalem so that I might visit Peter, and I was there with him for two weeks.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When three years passed-by beginning-from when I believed, I went to Jerusalem to visit Pedro and I stayed-with him for two weeks.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Three years went by and then I went to Jerusalem, for I went to see/meet Pedro. Fifteen days is how long I was with him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “After three years went by, then I went to Jerusalem in order to talk with Peter. But I was only there two weeks.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

Translation commentary on Galatians 1:18

In this verse and the next, Paul mentions his first visit to Jerusalem. It was three years later is literally “after three years,” but the purpose of this phrase is not merely chronological; rather it is used to put forth the argument that Paul did not establish contacts with the Jerusalem apostles for quite some time (Phillips “It was not until three years later”). It is difficult to determine just when these three years began. There are two possibilities: (1) from his return from Arabia or (2) from his conversion. Most commentators favor the latter. In some languages it may be necessary to stipulate the time from which the three years are to be reckoned, and so it may be necessary to say “three years after I returned to Damascus,” or “three years after I became a believer.” Note, however, that the latter of these alternatives is to be preferred.

To obtain information from Peter involves a verb which can mean either to gather information from him (Good News Translation) or to get acquainted with him (New English Bible “to get to know Cephas”; Moffatt “to make the acquaintance of Cephas”). In a number of languages the closest equivalent and most neutral way of expressing the meaning is “to talk with Peter.”

Peter is “Cephas” in the Greek; and “Cephas” (meaning “Rock”) is the equivalent of “Peter.”

Two weeks is literally “fifteen days.” The emphasis here is on the brevity of the visit; it would have been impossible for Paul to become a disciple of the Jerusalem apostles just by visiting Peter for such a short period of time. In order to emphasize the brevity of the visit and to play down this particular event, it is possible to translate this as “I stayed with him for just two weeks.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .