The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “high priest” in English is translated as “the ruler of the priests of our nation” in Yatzachi Zapotec, as “very great priest” in Chol (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.), as “first over the priests” in Ayutla Mixtec, and “chief of the priests” in Desano (source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.).
In Uma it is translated as “Big Priest,” in Western Bukidnon Manobo as “high sacrificer,” and in Tagbanwa as “Most-important Priest of God.” (See here.)
The Greek that is translated as “struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear” or similar in English is translated in Muong as “cut off the high priest’s slaves right ear.” In Muong it is not possible to refer to the same event with different verbs. (Source: Callow 1972, p. 45)
the Hebrew and Greek that is translated with “sword” in English is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “machete that is sharp on two sides,” in Lalana Chinantec as “machete” and in San Mateo del Mar Huave as “knife.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
Following is a hand colored stencil print on momigami of Peter by Sadao Watanabe (1970):
Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.
Following are a number of back-translations of John 18:10:
Uma: “From there, Simon Petrus unsheathed his sword, he used it to slash at a slave of the Big Priest, slicing off his right ear. The name of that slave was Malkus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Simon Petros carried a weapon. So-then he drew his sword and slashed a servant of the leading priest. What was hit was his right ear and it was immediately severed. The name of this servant was Malkus.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Simon Peter had a bolo, and he slashed the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. The name of this servant was Malchus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Simon Pedro abruptly-unsheathed his sword and suddenly-slashed-at Malkus the slave of the highest priest, and his right ear was sliced-off.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Simon Pedro couldn’t endure how he felt any longer. He unsheathed his bolo and slashed the slave of the Most-important Priest, the ear which got hit got cut off. The name of that slave was Malco.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Then Peter drew the sword he had and cut off the right ear of a man by the name of Malchus. This person was a servant of the chief priest.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
In Greek the verb translated had is a participle dependent on the verb drew, while cutting off is a finite verb. Good News Translation restructures (as do most other modern translations) in a way that is more natural in English. In fact, if one translated the Greek text literally into English, it would suggest two separate actions on Peter’s part (“striking” and “cutting off”). Obviously striking of the High Priest’s slave and cutting off his right ear are one and the same action, and Good News Translation makes this clear. The word translated sword (so most translations) literally means “knife” or “dagger,” suggesting a small weapon that could easily be concealed. All four Gospels mention this incident, but only John gives the names of the persons involved, Simon Peter and Malchus. The various Gospels use three different Greek words for ear, and it may be that in John and Mark the reference is only to the “earlobe.” However, most translations render ear. Only John and Luke specify that it was the right ear.
A literal translation of the Good News Translation rendering, struck the High Priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear, could be misunderstood, especially if the choice of a verb for struck suggests repeated blows. It is important here to use a term which indicates only one movement of the sword. In some languages it would be appropriate to say “Peter pulled out his sword and swung it at the High Priest’s slave. In so doing, he cut off the slave’s right ear.” In other languages it might be better to say “Peter pulled out his sword and cut off the right ear of the High Priest’s slave.”
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 .
