my God

In certain languages some types of possession simply cannot be used. For example in Hopi one cannot speak of [what is translated in English as] “(Yahweh) my God,” for God cannot be possessed. One must say, “the God in whom I believe.” (p. 206)

See also LORD your God / Lord your God.

touch

The Greek that is translated as “touch” in English is translated in the German translation by Fridolin Stier (1989) as “(touch and) hold on to” (festhalten).

Do not touch me (image)

Hand colored stencil print on washi by Sadao Watanabe (1993).

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.

brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.”

See also brothers.

complete verse (John 20:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 20:17:

  • Uma: “Yesus said saying to Maria: ‘Don’t touch/handle me, because I have not yet ascended/gone up going to my Father. Go to my relatives, say to them that I go to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa said to her, ‘Do not hold-on/cling-to (kaput) me because I have not yet gone home to my Father. But go to my siblings and tell them from me that I go home to my Father and my God. He is also your (pl.) Father and your (pl.) God.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me because I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brethren and say ‘I am going to my Father, to my God. He is also your Father and your God.’ ‘” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But Jesus said, ‘Don’t you (sing.) hang-onto/restrain-me (both lit. and figurative meanings possible), because I have not yet returned to my Father. Go immediately make-known to my brothers that I return to my Father who is also your Father, and to my God who is also your God.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “‘Please don’t keep holding on to me, because I haven’t yet gotten to return home to the Father. What you are to do now is, go to my disciples whom I now regard as my brothers and tell them that I will go home now to my Father, who is your (pl.) Father also, to my God who is your (pl.) God also.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘Don’t hold me because I must go to where my Father is. But you go and tell my brethren that I am going to my Father, he who is your Father. I am going to my God, he who is your God.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Christ Appears to Mary

Following is a 1973 painting of the JESUS MAFA project, a response to New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Each of the readings was selected and adapted to dramatic interpretation by the community members. Photographs of their interpretations were made, and these were then transcribed to paintings:

Dramatically picturesque, this painting of John’s resurrection narrative captures the moment when Mary recognizes Jesus outside the tomb where he was meant to be lying. She has fallen to her knees in joy and worship as she reaches out to touch him. Jesus holds his arm to himself as he commands her not to hold onto him for he “has not yet ascended to the father.” Mary’s happiness is infectious and stirs in the viewer a similar delight in believing that death does not have the final word.

From Art in the Christian Tradition , a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Image retrieved March 23, 2026. Original source: librairie-emmanuel.fr.