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 19:22:
Uma: “Pilatus said: ‘What I wrote, [stays] that way!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Pilatus answered, he said, ‘What I have written cannot be changed.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Pilate answered, ‘It can’t be changed. It is as I have written.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But Pilato answered, ‘What I have already written, it will certainly not be changed.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Pilato answered, saying, ‘That which I have written can’t be altered around. As long as it has been written, it has now been written.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Pilate said, ‘I have already written. It will stay.'” (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®).
What I have written stays written is literally “what I have written I have written” (so most translations). The notice was the equivalent of a legal decision, and it could not be altered. What I have written stays written may be rendered “what I have written will remain just that way” or “… will remain just as I have written it.” However, if wrote in verse 19 has been translated as a causative, a causative expression must be employed at this point, for example, “What I have caused to be written will remain just in that form” or “The notice which I ordered written must not be changed.”
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 .
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”: Pilate refused to change what he told the soldiers to write on the inscription/notice. Your translation should make it clear that he rejected the request to change the inscription. Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:
Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.” (New Living Translation (2004)) -or-
Pilate answered, “What I have written stays written.” (Good News Translation)
If you said in 19:19 that Pilate commanded others to write the inscription, you should not say here that he wrote it. For example:
Pilate replied, “What I ordered to be written will remain written!” -or-
But Pilate told them, “What is written will not be changed!” (Contemporary English Version)
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