The Greek that is translated in English as “fig tree” is translated in Lokạạ with figi, an indigenized transliteration of the English “fig.”
“The Lokạạ translators noted that they could not use the name of their local fig kẹkamati, which is very close to the fig family but only a shrub. This is because of the appearance of the Greek term for fig tree in verses such as John 1:48, where the fig tree is an enjoyable place for sitting in the shade. The Lokạạ translators decided to use an iconic translation of the English “fig”, which they indigenised as figi in Lokạạ. Since the term figi could not easily be connected to the indigenous term kẹkamati, readers would not have difficulty with passages such as John 1:48, in which people sit under the fig tree.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:48:
Uma: “Natanael said: ‘From where do you (sing.) know me, Teacher?’ Yesus said: ‘Before Filipus called you, I saw you (sing.), at the base of a fig tree over there.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Natanael said to Isa, ‘How do you know me?’ Isa answered him, he said, ‘When Pilip had not yet called you, I saw you under the fig tree.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Nathaniel said, ‘How is that you know me?’ And Jesus said, ‘Before Philip came to get you, I saw you under the fig tree.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Then Nataniel inquired, ‘Where/How perhaps did you (sing.) come-to-know me?’ ‘I saw you (sing.) at the base of the fig (loan igos) tree before Felipe called you (sing.),’ Jesus said in reply.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Natanael answered Jesus, ‘Excuse me, how did you know my nature/ways?’ Jesus replied, ‘Before you were told by Felipe, I had already seen you there under the igos tree.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Nathanael asked, ‘How is it that you know me?’ Jesus said, ‘I saw you before Philip called you, when you were where stands a tree called fig.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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. When the referent is God or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-zonji (ご存じ), a combination of “know” (zonji) and the honorific prefix go-. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
Two types of fig trees are mentioned in the Bible, the Common Fig Ficus carica (Hebrew te’enah) and the Sycomore Fig Ficus sycomorus (Hebrew shiqmah; see “Sycomore fig”). They are closely related. The common fig tree grows not only in Israel, but throughout the world in warm climates. In the Holy Land it was a common source of food; the fruit was eaten both fresh and dried. Sometimes the dried ones were pressed together to form flat “cakes” or blocks (Hebrew develah). But, just as important, the large leaves of the fig make it an excellent shade tree. However, the first use of the fig mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 3:7) was not for food or shade but for clothing; Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves for themselves to cover their nakedness.
The fig was probably domesticated in northwestern Turkey from a wild variety that grew there around 5000 years ago. Greek, Roman, and Egyptian records indicate that the fruits were popular. Figs are now grown especially in Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Portugal, as well as in the warm parts of the United States.
The fig is believed to be indigenous to western Asia and to have been distributed by humans and birds throughout the Mediterranean area. Remnants of figs have been found in excavations of sites traced to at least 5000 B.C.
The domesticated fig grows to about 5-8 meters (17-26 feet) and has a round crown and very deep and round roots. The trunk may grow to be more than 70 centimeters (2 feet) thick. Fig trees may grow to be several decades old, if they are well cared for. Figs are usually propagated by planting cuttings. The pollination of the flowers is an amazingly intricate process closely linked to the life cycle of a tiny wasp, and the fact that fig trees, like papayas and date palms, are male or female. (There are now some kinds of figs that produce fruit without pollination.) The fruits are about the size of a hen’s egg and can be green, yellow, purple, or brown depending on the type. They are sweet and soft and difficult to transport. For that reason most farmers dry the fruits before shipping them. The “fruit” of the fig is technically a strangely shaped flower. Noting the absence of a “real” flower, the ancient people of India called it a flowerless tree.
The common fig tree, along with the vine and the olive, is one of the three “top trees” for the Jews. The Bible refers to the fig over 270 times. The image of peace and happiness in Israel was “every man under his vine and under his fig tree” (1 Kings 4:25).
Wild figs are common throughout the tropical world; there are at least eight hundred species of Ficus, thirty-two in southern Africa alone. The banyan, peepul, and bo are all types of fig. The fruits of wild fig trees are not nearly as juicy or sweet as those of the domesticated ones. In many places people eat the fruit when they find it in the wild, but do not market it or cultivate the trees. Translators are urged to use the local word, and, if necessary, use a footnote to indicate the difference between the local one and the biblical one. Where it is not known at all, transliterations from a major language may be used in nonfigurative contexts.
How do you know me? (so most translations) is literally “From where do you know me?” However, there are parallels both in Semitic and Classical Greek to indicate that the adverb “from where” may be used in the sense of “how.” How do you know me? may, of course, be interpreted merely in the sense of “How do you know who I am?” But the focus in this context seems to be more upon Jesus’ knowledge about Nathanael’s character, and therefore a more appropriate equivalent may be “How do you know what sort of a person I am?”
A number of suggestions have been offered as to what Jesus meant by under the fig tree, but there is no consensus among scholars as to its meaning. It is best to take the phrase merely as a way of indicating the supernatural knowledge of Jesus, and not to try to find a symbolic meaning in the expression. That is, these words are best taken as a specific instance of Jesus’ ability to know all things, an emphasis brought out clearly in the Gospel of John.
Two translational problems are involved in the clause when you were under the fig tree. First, the use of the definite article the suggests a tree already mentioned in the context. The fig tree, however, can be regarded as definite only in the sense that it was the one already known to Nathanael, who was sitting under it. This type of meaning is difficult to communicate in some languages, and thus there is a tendency to employ such a rendering as “under a fig tree.”
Secondly, there is a problem in identifying the tree as one that produces a particular kind of fruit named “figs.” The tree can be identified by a borrowed term based on the sound of the word “fig.” However, unless it is identified as a particular kind of fruit tree often grown in home gardens for shade, much of the meaning may be lost. A full identification may be reflected in such a translation as “under a fruit tree producing fruit called figs,” but this type of rendering is over-elaborate and sounds like a legal language. Accordingly, the tendency is to use a generic expression, for example, “under a fruit tree” or “under a tree called fig.” In some languages there is an additional complication in speaking about being “under a tree,” for this may imply “in the ground under a tree,” in the sense of being buried. In such languages it is necessary to say “in the shade of a tree.”
In some languages it may be important to alter the order of the clauses in the statement made by Jesus so that they will seem to approximate more closely the chronological order of events. Since Nathanael’s being in the shade of the fig tree was presumably for a longer period of time than Jesus’ actual “seeing” him, and since both these events took place before Philip called Nathanael, it may be useful to translate as follows: “While you were still under the fig tree, I saw you there; and later Philip called you.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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