complete verse (John 11:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 11:18:

  • Uma: “Betania was close to Yerusalem, about three kilometers distance.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The village of Betani is close to Awrusalam, it is only about three kilometers.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The village of Bethany is just near the town of Jerusalem, about three kilometers away.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This-aforementioned Betania, it was close to Jerusalem, its distance being about (lit. going to) three kilometers.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The distance to Jerusalem from Betania was only three kilometers,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There at the town of Bethany it was only about two and a half kilometers from Jerusalem.” (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 .

distance (long / wide / high)

The concepts of distance that are translated in English with “long,” “wide,” and “high/tall” are translated in Kwere with one word: utali. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Translation commentary on John 11:18

For Bethany, see the comments at 11.1.

Less than two miles (New English Bible “just under two miles”; Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible “about two miles”) is literally “fifteen stadia.” A “stade” was a Roman measurement of a little more than six hundred feet, and so fifteen “stadia” is a little less than two miles or “about three kilometers.” It seems probable that the close distance between Bethany and Jerusalem is indicated to explain the large number of Jews in Bethany (see verse 19).

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 .