The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “blind” in English is translated as “(having) eyes dark/night” in Ekari or “having no eyes” in Zarma. (Source: Nida 1964, p. 200)
See also blind (Luke 4:18) and his eyes are darker than wine.
complete verse (Mark 10:46)
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:46:
- Uma: “Yesus and his disciples arrived in the village of Yerikho. When they left the village, many people followed them. On the edge of the road sat a blind person begging. His name was Bartimeus (meaning: child of Timeus).” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “So-then Isa and his disciples arrived in the town Ariha. When they left from there, very many people followed them. Na, there was a blind man sitting at the edge of the road they were passing asking for money. His name was Bartimiyus, son of Timiyus.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They came to the town of Jericho. And when Jesus and company and his disciples left there, there were very many people going along with them, and there was a blind beggar there named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. This beggar was sitting by the side of the road.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerico. Upon their leaving, a large-group of people went-with them. There was a blind-person sitting at the side of the road begging, Bartimeus the child of Timeus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Jesus now reached Jerico, his companions being his disciples. When they left there again, the mass of people who followed after them was unending. There was a blind (person) they came upon, sitting at the edge of the trail begging. His name was Bartimeo, his father being Timeo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
disciple
The Greek that is often translated as “disciple” in English typically follows three types of translation: (1) those which employ a verb ‘to learn’ or ‘to be taught’, (2) those which involve an additional factor of following, or accompaniment, often in the sense of apprenticeship, and (3) those which imply imitation of the teacher.
Following are some examples (click or tap for details):
- Ngäbere: “word searcher”
- Yaka: “one who learned from Jesus”
- Navajo, Western Highland Purepecha, Tepeuxila Cuicatec, Lacandon: “one who learned”
- San Miguel El Grande Mixtec: “one who studied with Jesus”
- Northern Grebo: “one Jesus taught”
- Toraja-Sa’dan: “child (i.e., follower) of the master”
- Indonesian: “pupil”
- Central Mazahua: “companion whom Jesus taught”
- Kipsigis, Loma, Copainalá Zoque: “apprentice” (implying continued association and learning)
- Cashibo-Cacataibo: “one who followed Jesus”
- Huautla Mazatec: “his people” (essentially his followers and is the political adherents of a leader)
- Highland Puebla Nahuatl: based on the root of “to imitate” (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida)
- Chol: “learner” (source: Larson 1998, p. 107)
- Waorani: “one who lives following Jesus” (source: Wallis 1973, p. 39)
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “learner” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Javanese: “pupil” or “companion” (“a borrowing from Arabic that is a technical term for Mohammed’s close associates”)
- German: Jünger or “younger one” (source for this and one above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
- Nyongar: ngooldjara-kambarna or “friend-follow” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
In Luang several terms with different shades of meaning are being used.
- For Mark 2:23 and 3:7: maka nwatutu-nwaye’a re — “those that are taught” (“This is the term used for ‘disciples’ before the resurrection, while Jesus was still on earth teaching them.”)
- For Acts 9:1 and 9:10: makpesiay — “those who believe.” (“This is the term used for believers and occasionally for the church, but also for referring to the disciples when tracking participants with a view to keeping them clear for the Luang readers. Although Greek has different terms for ‘believers’, ‘brothers’, and ‘church’, only one Luang word can be used in a given episode to avoid confusion. Using three different terms would imply three different sets of participants.”)
- For Acts 6:1: mak lernohora Yesus wniatutunu-wniaye’eni — “those who follow Jesus’ teaching.” (“This is the term used for ‘disciples’ after Jesus returned to heaven.”)
Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.