The Greek and Latin that is translated as “resurrection” in English is translated in Chicahuaxtla Triqui and Pohnpeian as “live-up” (i.e. return to life) (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel) and in Iloko as panagungar: a term that stems “from the word ‘agungar,’ an agricultural term used to describe the coming back to life of a plant which was wilting but which has been watered by the farmer, or of a bulb which was apparently dead but grows again.” (Source: G. Henry Waterman in The Bible Translator 1960, p. 24ff. )
Likewise, in Matumbiyu’ya carries the meaning of “raise from the dead, resuscitate, come back from near death” and is used for dry plants that come back to life when you water them or sick children who revive after being healed. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
In Estado de México Otomi, it is translated as “people will be raised from the dead,” in Teutila Cuicatec as “the dead having to come to life again,” in San Mateo del Mar Huave as “arose from the grave” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), and in Kriol as gidap laibala brom dedbala or “get up alive from the dead” (source: Sam Freney in this article .)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 5:29:
Uma: “and they will rise from their graves. Those who did good behavior are raised in order to receive good life. Those who did evil behavior are raised in order to be punished.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “When they hear it they will come out of their graves. The people who have done good will come out and live forever in heaven. And the people who have done bad will also come out and they will be hit by God’s judgment and will be punished.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “and they will all be resurrected. The ones who have done good, they will be given eternal life, and the ones who, on the other hand, have done bad, they will be raised from the dead so that they might be punished.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “and they will come-out-from their burial-places. Those who have done what is good, they will come-to-life so that they will gain life that is forever, but those who have done evil, they will come-to-life so they will be condemned to be punished.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well they will be made alive again and come out from their graves. All who have been doing good while still alive will be given life which has no ending. But all those who have been doing evil will be sentenced to be punished.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “They will come out of the place where they were buried. Those who lived good lives will be resurrected in order to live anew. Those who lived evilly will be resurrected in order to be sentenced.” (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®).
Out of their graves is implicit in the Greek text, but it is made explicit in Good News Translation on the basis of the phrase “in their graves” in verse 28. If of their graves is likely to be understood restrictively, that is, as implying that only the dead who are in graves will come out, then it may be necessary to omit the phrase and to translate “the dead will come forth” or “the dead will come from where they are.”
Will rise and live is literally “to the resurrection of life” (Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation transforms the nouns “resurrection” and “life” into verbs, since they denote events rather than objects. At the same time it clarifies the meaning of the phrase “of life.” Several other translations use essentially the same technique (for example, Jerusalem Bible and Phillips “will rise again to life”). The last phrase in this verse (literally “to the resurrection of judgment”) is translated basically in the same way: will rise and be condemned. It is evident that the judgment referred to is a condemnatory judgment, and so Good News Translation renders the noun “condemnation” as be condemned. New American Bible translates this phrase “shall rise to be damned,” while Jerusalem Bible has “to condemnation.” New English Bible is quite expressive, “will rise to hear their doom.”
Most translations take the noun “resurrection” in an active sense (“will rise”), but Moffatt takes it with a passive meaning, “to be raised.” According to Jewish and Christian teaching, it is God who raises the dead, and so the passive voice may come closer to the meaning of this passage.
In many languages the verb “to rise” or “to be raised” cannot be used with the meaning of “coming back to life” or “to live again.” One may sometimes speak of “leaving death” or “throwing away death,” but more commonly it is necessary to use such an expression as “coming back to life” or “living again.” The second clause of verse 29 may be translated simply “those who have done good will live again,” for in this context will rise and live carry similar meanings. However, the final clause of verse 29 may be rendered “those who have done evil will come back to life and will be condemned.”
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 .
and come out: The dead people who hear Jesus’ voice come out of their graves. The phrase implies that they will first become alive. This does not refer to dead people walking around. In order to avoid this wrong meaning, it may be necessary to say:
⌊will rise/live⌋ and come out
In some languages it may be natural to say explicitly from where/what the dead will come out. Refer to your translation of 5:28b. For example:
come out of their graves (Good News Translation)
have done good: The Greek phrase that Berean Standard Bible translates as have done good refers to doing what is right, what pleases God. This includes how a person thinks and speaks as well as how he acts.
to the resurrection of life: This phrase here means “will come out of their graves and live again.” Jesus will call these people from their graves in order that they might live with God forever. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
will rise to live (New International Version) -or-
will rise and have life forever (New Century Version)
General Comment on 5:28b–29a
In some languages the break between verses may seem awkward. It may be more natural to include “and will come out” in 5:28b. For example:
28b for the hour is coming when the dead will leave their graves at the sound of his voice: 29a those who did good will come forth to life…. (New Jerusalem Bible)
5:29b
have done evil: This phrase refers to acting, thinking, and speaking in a way that does not please God.
to the resurrection of judgment: Jesus was indicating that the resurrection of these people will result in their being condemned. Jesus will call these people from their graves in order that they might be judged guilty. See how you translated “resurrection of life” in 5:29a. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
will rise to be condemned (New International Version)
judgment: This is an abstract noun referring to the action of being condemned. It means that Jesus/God will judge them guilty. There are at least two other ways to translate this word:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
to be judged guilty (New Century Version)
• Use an active verb. For example:
to experience judgment (New Living Translation (2004))
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