Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.
As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator2002, p. 210ff. ), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.
Here, the crowd and Pilate address each other with the formal, respectful pronoun.
In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “government/governor” plus the sign for “P” with a circular movement. The reference to government indicates Pilate’s position of authority in the Roman Empire. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Pilate” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations of John 18:29:
Uma: “So, Gubernur Pilatus went outside to meet with them and he asked them: ‘Of what do you accuse this person?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Therefore Governor Pilatus came out to them and he asked them, he said, ‘What are you accusing this person of?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because of this, Governor Pilate came out to them and said, ‘What are you accusing this man of?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “That being so, Pilato came-out and asked them, ‘What is your charge against that (near addressee) person?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore they were in fact gone out to by that governor who was Pilato, and he questioned them saying, ‘What charge are you bringing against this person?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Therefore Pilate came out to speak with the Jews and said, ‘What do you accuse this man of?'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
This is the first mention of Pilate in the Gospel of John. The author presumes that Pilate is known to his readers, so he does not identify him further. He was the governor of Judea A.D. 26-36; a good deal is known about him from Jewish sources, most of which is unfavorable. In translation it may be necessary to identify him specifically as the governor the first time he is mentioned. Accordingly one may translate the first part of this verse “so Governor Pilate went outside to them” or “so Pilate, who was the governor, went outside to them.”
Only John mentions that Pilate went outside to the Jews. The constant movement of Pilate in and out of the building is a feature of the Johannine account.
And asked is literally “and says,” but a question is involved, and so Good News Translation uses a more specific verb.
The term accused may be translated in some languages only by making specific what is involved, for example, “What bad thing do you say this man did?” or “What wrong do you say this man did?” or “Do you say, This man did something bad?”
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 .
So Pilate went out to them: The Roman governor, Pilate, went out of his house to talk to Jesus’ accusers. Although Jews believed that entering a Gentile house would defile them, they could enter a courtyard and remain ritually clean. So it seems likely that they entered the courtyard and Pilate did not have to go outside the compound.
So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So indicates a return to the main story after the parenthetical information in 18:28c–f. It also indicates that Pilate went outside as a result of the Jews not entering his house.
Pilate: The name of the Roman governor of the province of Judea at this time was Pilate. Here is another way to translate this name:
Governor Pilate -or-
Pilate, who was the governor,
them: This pronoun refers to the Jews who had come to accuse Jesus.
18:29b
and asked: The verb asked here introduces a question, but could also be translated as “said.” In some languages it is more natural to tell whom Pilate asked. For example:
asked the council members -or-
asked the high priest and those with him
What accusation are you bringing against this man?: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as accusation means “what someone is accused of doing” or “what crime someone says another did.” To bring an accusation or charge is to accuse someone. Pilate asked Jesus’ accusers what wrong Jesus did. He wondered what they accused him of doing. Here are some ways that this question can be translated:
What crime did Jesus commit? -or-
What ⌊Roman⌋ law did Jesus break? -or-
What charges are you bringing against this man? (New International Version) -or-
What do you accuse this man of? (Good News Translation)
accusation: An accusation is a charge or complaint that someone is guilty of some wrongdoing. Here the word is used in a legal setting, with Pilate being the judge. Use the legal expression that is common in your culture.
you: This pronoun is plural and refers to Jesus’ accusers.
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