The Greek that is translated as “convulsions” or similar in English is translated in Low German idiomatically with the reduplicative rüttel un schüttel for “shake” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).
with a loud voice
The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “with a loud voice” in English is translated in Low German idiomatically as luuthals or “loud-throated” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).
It is also used in Acts 19:28 for krazó (κράζω).
unclean spirit / evil spirit
The Hebrew and Greek that is typically translated/transliterated in English as “unclean spirit” or “evil spirit” is translated in Paasaal it is translated as gyɩŋbɔmɔ, which is also the term used for “demon.” Wyɩŋbɔmɔ are “beings that are in the wild and can only be seen when they choose to reveal themselves to certain people. They can ‘capture’ humans and keep them in hiding while they train the person in herbalism and divination. After the training period, which can range from a week to many years, the ‘captured’ individual is released to go back into society as a healer and a diviner. The gyɩŋbɔmɔ can also be evil, striking humans with mental diseases and causing individuals to get lost in the wild. The Pasaale worldview about demons is like that of others of the language groups in the area.” (Source: Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
Note that often the words for “demon” “unclean spirit” are being used interchangeably.
Mark 1:21-28 in Russian Sign Language
Following is the translation of Mark 1:21-28 into Russian Sign Language with a back-translation underneath:
Source: Russian Bible Society / Российское Библейское Общество
Jesus and the four disciples came to the town of Capernaum. There is a house of prayer there. It was where the Jews gathered together every Sabbath to pray, to teach, to listen. It was the Sabbath day. Jesus went in there. He began to teach. The people listened attentively. They wondered:
— How is he teaching? There used to be teachers of the law, but here he was different; it was as if God had given him authority.
The people marveled. Suddenly some man jumped up. Satan was in him. He began to shout fearfully:
— You, Jesus of Nazareth! Why have you come here to us? You are planning to destroy us! I know you! God has chosen you!
Jesus looked at him and said:
— Be quiet! The demon in this man, get out!
The demon inside the man began to scream and thrash and jumped out, and the man fell down. The people around marveled, people began to say:
— How can this be? Jesus has the power to command Satan and Satan obeys.
The rumor of this miracle spread everywhere.
Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):
Иисус вместе с четырьмя учениками прибыли в город Капернаум. Там есть дом молитвы. Туда каждую субботу собирались иудеи вместе, чтобы молиться, учить, слушать. Был день суббота. Иисус зашел туда. Начал учить. Народ слушал внимательно. Все удивлялись:
— Как это он учит? Раньше ходили учителя закона, но вот он совсем другой; как будто бы Бог дал ему власть.
Народ удивлялся. Вдруг вскочил какой-то человек. Сатана был в нем. Он начал страшно кричать:
— Ты, Иисус из Назарета! Ты зачем пришел сюда к нам? Ты задумал нас истребить! Я знаю тебя! Бог избрал тебя!
Иисус посмотрел на него и сказал:
— Замолчи! Бес в этом человеке, выйди вон!
Бес внутри человека стал кричать, биться и выскочил вон, а человек упал. Народ вокруг изумился, люди начали говорить:
— Как же это?! Иисус имеет власть приказывать сатане и сатана слушается.
Слух об этом чуде стал распространяться повсюду.
Back-translation by Luka Manevich
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Mark 1:29-39 in Russian Sign Language >>
Mark 1:21b-28 in Mexican Sign Language
Following is the translation of Mark 1:21b-28 into Mexican Sign Language with back-translations into Spanish and English underneath:
© La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
El sábado, el día de descanso, las personas fueron al templo y Jesús enseñaba.
La gente lo miró y pensó: antes de esto siempre hemos visto los maestros de la ley, primero aprenden algo y luego lo enseñan, pero Jesús es diferente, él sabe todo completo y enseña bien, ¡huy!
Mientras las personas estaban viendo (a Jesús) se paró un hombre que tenía un demonio adentro y gritó interrompiendo a las personas, y ellos se volvieron a ver el hombre que fue al frente y empezó a insultar a Jesús: ¿Tú, para qué has venido?, tú que vives en Nazaret, te conozco, huy, tú eres el santo de Dios, tú has venido para destruirme.
Jesús (dijo): “Silencio, te expulso, demonio”, y el hombre cayó en el piso convulsionando y pateando y el demonio adentro de él gritó y lo dejó.
Las personas lo vieron con asombro: ¿cómo es posible? Él, Jesús, puede enseñar en una manera nueva, puede expulsar demonios, lo obedecen y se piran, ¡huy!
La gente se levantó y en su camino advertieron y contaron (lo que había pasado) y se difundió por Galilea.
On Saturday, the day of rest, the people went to the religious building and Jesus taught.
The people watched him and thought: before this we have always seen the teachers of the law, they learn first and then they teach it, but Jesus is different, he knows it completely and he teaches well, wow!
As the people were watching (Jesus) a man who had a demon inside stood up and shouted, interrupting the people so that they all turned to see the man. He went to the front and started insulting Jesus: What have you come for? You, who live in Nazareth, I know you, wow, you are the holy one of God, you have come in order to destroy me.
Jesus (said): “Silence, get out demon”, the man fell on the ground writhing and kicking and inside him the demon screamed and left him.
The people watched him in amazement: How is this possible? He, Jesus can teach in a new way, he can throw out demons and they obey him and go away, wow!
The people got up and on their way they let people know and told them (what had happened) and it spread throughout Galilee.
Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios
<< Mark 1:16-21a in Mexican Sign Language
Mark 1:29-34 in Mexican Sign Language >>
complete verse (Mark 1:26)
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 1:26:
- Uma: “That person shook/trembled because of the evil spirit, and he cried out, and the evil spirit that possessed [rode] him came out.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “So-then the man was convulsed by the demon and after the demon had screamed/shouted, he came out from the man.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And immediately the demon caused that man to have convulsions and caused him to scream loudly, and the demon came out of him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Whereupon the spirit caused-that man -to-convulse while-simultaneously he made-him -scream, and then he left him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “That person was again caused to convulse by that evil spirit who was possessing him. And then it cried out as it left his body.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Shipibo-Conibo: “Then the ruinous demon twisted him. Having twisted him, it screamed out greatly. It came out of him.” (Source: James Lauriault in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 32ff. )
- Balinese: “The demon(s) tormented the man so that he jerked, then went out while he (or they) screamed, loudly.” (Source: J.L. Swellengrebel in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 75ff. )
- English translation by Michael Pakaluk (2019): “Well, the unclean spirit convulsed him and, producing a tremendous sound, came out of him.”
Scriptures Plain & Simple (Mark 1:21-28)
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Mark 1:21-28:
Jesus and his followers went to the town of Capernaum,
and when the Sabbath rolled around,
Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching.
Everyone was amazed at his powerful teaching —
they’d never heard anything like this.
Suddenly a demon-possessed man rushed in, shouting,
“Jesus of Nazareth, have you come here to destroy us?
I know you — you’re God’s Chosen One!”
“You demon, come out of this man!
Be silent!” shouted Jesus.
After sending the man into a convulsion,
the demon yelled and left.
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