The now commonly-used German idiom Mördergrube (literally “murderers’ pit”), which today is primarily used in the expression “aus seinem Herzen keine Mördergrube machen” or “to speak freely” (literally: “don’t turn your heart into a murderers pit”), was made popular in 1522 in the German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. Note that from the 1956 the Luther Bible edition on forward, this was replaced with the more correct Räuberhöhle. (Source: Günther 2017, p. 90)
For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
The Greek that is translated as a form of “teach” is translated with some figurative phrases such as “to engrave the mind” (Ngäbere) or “to cause others to imitate” (Huichol). (Source: Bratcher / Nida)
In Noongar it is translated as karni-waangki or “truth saying” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
The Greek that is translated as “all the gentiles” or “all nations” in English is translated as “all people” in Tzeltal, as “all mankind” in Highland Totonac, or “the peoples who are everywhere” in Chicahuaxtla Triqui. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
The now commonly-used English idiom “den of thieves” (meaning a group of people engaged in or suspected of illegal, immoral, or underhanded activities or a place in which such activities take place) was first coined in 1382 in the English translation by John Wycliffe (in the spelling denne of theues). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 290)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
“Jesus is doing something extremely dangerous here. The Thai temple is a place in which it is considered by religious people inappropriate to show any anger or strong emotions. It has to be an extremely urgent reason for someone to do something as violent as this in such a sacred space.”
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Jesús y los discípulos fueron a Jerusalén y cerca del templo en la plaza afuera Jesús vio a las personas cambiando dinero y a otras personas vendiendo palomas.
Jesús caminó hacia ellos y quitaba las sillas y tiraba las mesas y el dinero se esparció. Las personas que estaban vendiendo y comprando Jesus los expulsó.
Jesús vio a otras personas que venían cargando cosas (y dijo): “¡Alto, está prohibido que uds se metan en el templo, tienen que dar la vuelta afuera!”
“Oigan, está escrito en el rollo que Dios dice: ‘El templo es mi casa para oración, todas las personas del país pueden congregar libremente para orar’, pero uds piensan que el templo parece una cueva donde entran los rateros y ladrones.”
Los líderes de los sacerdotes y los maestros de la Ley lo oyeron: “¡Caray!” tenían miedo y dialogaron acerca de que querían matar a Jesús, pero ¿cómo? Habría una estorba porque vieron a Jesús siempre enseñando y las personas que lo veían eran atraídos, lo consideraban maravilloso.
Después en la noche Jesús y los discípulos se fueron a otro lugar.
Jesus and the disciples went to Jerusalem and near the temple in the square outside it Jesus saw the people changing money and other people selling doves.
Jesus walked over to them and took away the chairs and threw over the tables and the money was spread out. The people who were selling and buying were thrown out by Jesus.
Jesus saw other people who came carrying things (and said): “Stop, it is prohibited to enter the temple, you have to go around it outside!”
“Hey, it is written in the scroll that God says: ‘The temple is my house for prayer, all the people of the country can gather freely to pray,’ but you think it is like a cave where pickpockets and thieves enter.”
The leaders of the priests and the teachers of the Law heard it: “Oh no!” They were afraid and discussed together that they wanted to kill Jesus, but how? There would be a disturbance because they always saw Jesus teaching and the people who saw him were attracted and thought it wonderful.
Afterwards, at night, Jesus and the disciples went off to another place.
Jesus and his disciples came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into the Temple courtyard. There he saw many people selling and buying animals and pigeons. There were tables of coin changers. Jesus looked at all this, became angry, and began to drive away both the sellers and the buyers. There was a great commotion. Jesus overturned the tables and overturned the benches of the pigeon sellers. And he forbade people to go through the Temple courtyard to trade.
Jesus began to teach:
— Long ago two prophets in the Bible wrote: “This place will be called the house of the Lord, a place of prayer,” and you have turned it into a gathering of criminals.
Jesus continued to teach. The older priests and teachers of the law heard this and they all got angry and began to discuss how they could kill Jesus. They were afraid that a great many people were listening to Jesus favorably.
Evening came. Jesus and his disciples left the city and traveled back.
Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):
Иисус вместе с учениками пришли в Иерусалим. Иисус вошел во двор Храма. Там он увидел, что множество людей продают и покупают животных и голубей. Были там столы обменщиков монет. Иисус посмотрел на все это, разгневался и начал прогонять прочь и продавцов и покупателей. Случился великий переполох. Столы Иисус перевернул, скамейки продавцов голубей тоже перевернул. И он запретил, чтобы люди проходили через двор Храма, чтобы торговать.
Иисус начал учить:
— Еще давно два пророка в Библии писали: «Это место будет названо домом Господа, местом молитвы», а вы превратили его в сборище преступников.
Иисус продолжал учить. Старшие священники и учителя закона услышали это, все они разозлились и стали обсуждать, как им убить Иисуса. Они боялись, что очень многие люди слушали Иисуса благосклонно.
Наступил вечер. Иисус с учениками покинули город и отправились обратно.
“beg” or “ask,” (full expression: “ask with one’s heart coming out,” which leaves out selfish praying, for asking with the heart out leaves no place for self to hide) (Tzotzil)
“raise up one’s words to God” (implying an element of worship, as well as communication) (Miskito, Lacandon) (source of this and all above: Bratcher / Nida)
“speak to God” (Shilluk) (source: Nida 1964, p. 237)
“talk together with Great Above One (=God)” (Mairasi) (source: Enggavoter, 2004)
“beg” (waan) (Ik). Terrill Schrock (in Wycliffe Bible Translators 2016, p. 93) explains (click or tap here to read more):
What do begging and praying have to do with each other? Do you beg when you pray? Do I?
“The Ik word for ‘visitor’ is waanam, which means ‘begging person.’ Do you beg when you go visiting? The Ik do. Maybe you don’t beg, but maybe when you visit someone, you are looking for something. Maybe it’s just a listening ear.
When the Ik hear that [my wife] Amber and I are planning trip to this or that place for a certain amount of time, the letters and lists start coming. As the days dwindle before our departure, the little stack of guests grows. ‘Please, sir, remember me for the allowing: shoes, jacket (rainproof), watch, box, trousers, pens, and money for the children. Thank you, sir, for your assistance.’
“A few people come by just to greet us or spend bit of time with us. Another precious few will occasionally confide in us about their problems without asking for anything more than a listening ear. I love that.
“The other day I was in our spare bedroom praying my list of requests to God — a nice list covering most areas of my life, certainly all the points of anxiety. Then it hit me: Does God want my list, or does he want my relationship?
“I decided to try something. Instead of reading off my list of requests to God, I just talk to him about my issues without any expectation of how he should respond. I make it more about our relationship than my list, because if our personhood is like God’s personhood, then maybe God prefers our confidence and time to our lists, letters, and enumerations.”
In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning (click or tap here to read more):
For Acts 1:14, 20:36, 21:5: kola ttieru-yawur nehla — “hold the waist and hug the neck.” (“This is the more general term for prayer and often refers to worship in prayer as opposed to petition. The Luang people spend the majority of their prayers worshiping rather than petitioning, which explains why this term often is used generically for prayer.”)
For Acts 28:9: sumbiani — “pray.” (“This term is also used generically for ‘prayer’. When praying is referred to several times in close proximity, it serves as a variation for kola ttieru-yawur nehla, in keeping with Luang discourse style. It is also used when a prayer is made up of many requests.”)
For Acts 8:15, 12:5: polu-waka — “call-ask.” (“This is a term for petition that is used especially when the need is very intense.”)
Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.
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