mat

The Greek that is translated as “mat” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as Strohsack or “straw mattress.”

See also mat, bed.

Sabbath

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “Sabbath” in English is rendered as “day we rest” in Tzotzil, in Mairasi as “Jew’s Rest Day,” in Quiotepec Chinantec as “day when people of Israel rested,” in Shilluk as “day of God,” in Obolo as Usen Mbuban or “Holy Day,” and in Mandarin Chinese as ānxírì (安息日) or “rest day” (literally: “peace – rest – day”). (Sources: Tzotzil: Marion Cowan in Notes on Translation with Drill, p. 169ff; Mairasi: Enggavoter 2004; Quiotepec Chinantec: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.; Shilluk: Nida 1964, p. 237; Obolo: Enene Enene; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

In Matumbi it is translated as Sabato ya Ayahudi or “Sabbath of the Jews,” to distinguish it from the Islamic Sabbath (which is Friday) or the Christian Sabbath (which is Sunday). (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In the old Khmer version as well as in the first new translation this term was rendered as “day of rest” (Thngai Chhup Somrak / ​ថ្ងៃ​ឈប់​សំរាក). Considered inadequate to convey its religious meaning (not only about cessation of work, but also in honor of Yahweh as the Creator), the committee for the Today’s Khmer Version (publ. 2005) decided to keep the Hebrew word and use its transliterated form Thgnai Sabath (​ថ្ងៃ​សប្ប័ទ). “The Buddhist word Thngai Seil ‘day of merits’ used by some Catholics was once under consideration but was rejected because it did not receive unanimous support.” (Source: Joseph Hong in The Bible Translator 1996, p. 233ff. )

In Spanish, the translation is either día de reposo (“day of rest”) or sábado (usually: “Saturday,” derived from the Greek and Hebrew original). Nida (1947, p. 239f.) explains that problem for Spanish and other languages in its sphere of influence: “In translation ‘Sabbath’ into various aboriginal languages of Latin America, a considerable number of translators have used the Spanish sábado, ‘Saturday,’ because it is derived from the Hebrew sabbath and seems to correspond to English usage as well. The difficulty is that sábado means only ‘Saturday’ for most people. There is no religious significance about this word as the is with ‘Sabbath’ in English. Accordingly the [readers] cannot understand the significance of the persecution of Jesus because he worked on ‘Saturday.’ It has been found quite advantageous to use the translation ‘day of rest,’ for this accurately translated the Hebrew meaning of the term and resolves the problem in connection with the prohibitions placed upon some types of activities.”

In French Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts closing of the blinds of a store:


“Sabbath” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Sabbath .

complete verse (John 5:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 5:9:

  • Uma: “That man got well, he rolled up his mat, and he walked. That happened on Sabat Day, the worship day of the Yahudi people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Immediately the person was well. He took his for-lying-on and walked already. Na, that day was a Saturday, the day of-no-work for the Yahudi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And immediately the man was well. He rolled up his mat and he walked around.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And he became-well immediately, picked-his mat -right-up, and then walked. This happened on the day for-resting.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Suddenly/unexpectedly that man then got better. He truly did carry it and went. That day was the Day of Rest.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “At once the sick person became well. He picked up his mat and went. That day was the day for resting.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 5:9

Immediately is omitted by the original scribe of one important Greek manuscript. It is possible that this word was added later in an attempt to heighten the effect of the miracle. The UBS Committee on the Greek text believes its omission was accidental, and most translations apparently accept the word as an original part of the text.

The ability of the man to pick up his mat and walk emphasizes the completeness of the cure. This verse forms the counterpart to the mention of the thirty-eight years in verse 5.

In very few words John states the basis for the controversy that is to follow. Moffatt is literal in his rendering: “Now it was the sabbath on that day.” Though some languages employ a transliteration of Sabbath, it is most frequently translated as “rest day” or “day on which people rested.” Sometimes the matter of “resting” may be qualified by such an expression as “prescribed rest” or “ordered rest.”

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 .