heir

In Highland Puebla Nahuatl there is no immediate equivalent for the Greek that is translated with the English term “heir.” So here an expression is used that means “someone who will receive the property (or: things).” (Source: Nida 1947, p. 200f.) Likewise, in Chimborazo Highland Quichua the translation is “those who receive what belongs to their father” (source: Julia Woodward in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 140ff. ) and in Sayula Popoluca “will receive all that God has for us” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.).

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 12:1 - 12 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 12:1-12 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)

Jesús empezó a enseñar diciendo: “Un ejemplo: un hombre, dueño de un terreno lo aró (y pusó) plantas de uvas, después construyó un cerco alrededor y después cavó un ollo cuadrado y puso un piedra plano adentro para poner las uvas y aplastarlas pisandolas para que saliera el jugo para (hacer) vino.

Construyó un torre para que personas vigilaran y después el dueño llamó un grupo de personas (y dijo): ‘yo voy de viaje, uds trabajen cuidando las plantas de uva y después cuando estén listos uds y yo las dividimos mitad y mitad, ¿de acuerdo? OK?’ Y se fue.

Después de un tiempo el dueño sintió que las plantas de uva allá estarían listos y dijo a un siervo: ‘vete a mi terreno, antes acordamos a que dividiríamos las uvas mitad y mitad, traemelas.’

El siervo fue pero las personas lo asaltaron y golpearon y lo expulsaron y regresó (diciendo): ‘No me dieron nada de uvas.’

Mandó segundo siervo a que fuera y él fue pero las personas lo insultaron y golpearon y regresó, y mandó otro, el tercero, a que fuera y él fue y lo mataron.

Otros siervos fueron pero una y otra vez los golpearon y mataron y finalmente el dueño sintió: ‘creo que a mi hijo amado tendrían respeto’ y lo mandó a que fuera.

Fue y las personas dialogaron juntos (diciendo): ‘Este es el hijo del dueño, el heredero, mejor que lo matemos y entonces nosotros heredaremos’, y lo asaltaron y mataron y tiraron su cuerpo afuera.”

Jesús dijo: “¿Qué piensan uds que hará el dueño? Encontrará y matará a todas las personas y entregará (el terreno) a otras personas nuevas, ¿de acuerdo?”

˜Oigan, ¿no han visto y leído el rollo de la palabra de Dios? Dice que las personas que construyen (dirán que) el piedra grande no sirve y lo tirarán, pero Dios sí usará la piedra y la pondrá como piedra abajo de la esquina para constuir un edificio, uds lo verán como maravilloso.”

Los líderes lo oyeron: ‘Caray, Jesús lo dice como en contra de nosotros’, y querían arrestar a Jesús pero tenían miedo, ‘mejor no porque habría una estorba de todas las personas’ y lo dejaron y se fueron.


Jesus began to teach saying: “An example, a man, owner of a field, plowed it and (put) grape plants, then he built a fence around it and dug a square hole in which he put a flat stone to put grapes on and squash them by stepping on them so that the juice would run out to (make) wine.

“He built a tower for people to keep watch and then the owner called a group of people (and said): “I am going on a journey, you work and take care of the grape plants and then when they are ready we divide them in two halves, agreed? OK?’ And he went off.

“After a time the owner felt that the grape plants would be ready and he said to a servant: ‘go to my land, before we agreed to divide the grapes half-half, bring them to me.’

“The servant went but the people attacked him and beat him and threw him out and he came back (saying): ‘They did not give me any grapes.’

“He ordered a second servant to go and he went but the people insulted him and beat him and he came back and he ordered a third and he went and they killed him.

“Other servants went but time and time again they beat them and killed them and finally the owner felt: ‘I believe that they would respect my beloved son’ and he sent him to go.

“He went and the people discussed together (saying): ‘This is the son of the owner, the heir, it’s better that we kill him and then we will inherit’ and they attacked him and killed him and threw his body outside.”

Jesus said: “What do you think the owner will do? He will meet and kill all these people and hand over (the field) to other, new, people, right?”

˜Listen, have you not seen and read the scroll of the Word of God? It says that the people who build (will say that) the big stone is useless and will throw it out, but God will use the stone and will put the stone under the corner for the construction of a building, you will see it as wonderful.”

The leaders heard it: ‘Oh no, Jesus talks as if it is against us’ and they wanted to arrest Jesus but they were afraid, ‘better not because there will be a disturbance among all the people’ and they left him and went away.

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

<< Mark 11:27-33 in Mexican Sign Language
Mark 12:13-17 in Mexican Sign Language >>

Mark 12:1-12 in Russian Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 12:1-12 into Russian Sign Language with a back-translation underneath:


Source: Russian Bible Society / Российское Библейское Общество

The chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders stood on one side. Jesus taught the people. A large crowd gathered around Jesus. Jesus began to tell a parable:

There was a man, the owner. He had his own plot of land. He fenced it and planted grapes there.

Then he made a hole in the stone; in it a tube. When the grapes grow, they will harvest, then throw them into this hole and trample them. The juice will flow through this tube, and they will make wine from it.

This man also built a tower so that the guards could protect the area, so that strangers would not enter. He prepared all this. Then he called the workers and said to them:

— I give you this plot, look after it, cultivate the land, this vineyard. And when it ripens, we will divide the harvest. I will take part for myself, part for you.

And the owner went far, far away, on his own business. Time passed, autumn came, the owner called the servant and said: I have a plot of grapes. Go there and take some of the harvest.

The servant obeyed and went to that place, to the plot. The people who worked there decided that they would not give anything to this servant. They beat the servant and threw him out.

He left empty-handed. The owner saw that, called another servant, and also sent him there to take part of the harvest. The second servant came to the place. The workers saw the servant again, talked among themselves and decided that they would not give anything.

They grabbed him, beat him on the head, beat him very hard, beat him very cruelly. And then the master called a third servant and also sent him to that place. And when the third servant came there, those evil people also did not give anything, they grabbed him and killed him.

The owner says: I sent and sent my servants there so many times, and those workers beat them, killed those whom I sent there.

The owner thought: What to do?

He had an only, beloved son. The owner thought: If I send my son, they will not dare to touch him.

And he ordered his son to go there. The workers saw the son and began to talk among themselves:

— But he is the owner’s son. He will inherit and take possession of this plot. Let’s kill him and seize this plot for ourselves!

When the son approached, they grabbed him, killed him and threw him outside the area.

What will the owner do then?

Of course, he will come, seize these workers and punish them all with death. And he will give the area to other people.

Jesus said to the chief priests, scribes, and elders:

— You know what is written in the Scripture:

People gathered to build a house of stones. Suddenly they decided that one stone was not needed and threw it away. They continued to build the house, but without this stone. The Lord commanded that this stone should be the most important in the house. The builders saw that the Lord had performed a miracle.

The elders who were standing around realized that Jesus was telling this parable against them. They were indignant and wanted to seize Jesus, but they could not do so because there were so many people around.

They decided: Let’s do nothing and leave.

And they left.

Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):

Первосвященники, учителя закона и старейшины стояли с одной стороны. Иисус учил народ. Вокруг Иисуса собралась большая толпа. Иисус начал рассказывать притчу:

Был один человек, хозяин. У него был свой участок земли. Он огородил его, посадил там виноград.

Потом сделал яму в камне; в ней трубочка. Когда виноград вырастет, соберут урожай, то бросят в эту яму и будут топтать. Сок потечет по этой трубочке, и из него сделают вино.

Также этот человек построил башню для того, чтобы сторожа охраняли, чтобы чужие не заходили на участок. Он все это подготовил. Потом позвал работников и сказал им:

— Я даю вам этот участок, ухаживайте, обрабатывайте землю, этот виноградник. И когда он созреет, мы поделим урожай. Часть я себе заберу, часть вам.

И хозяин уехал далеко-далеко, по своим делам. Прошло время, наступила осень, хозяин позвал слугу и сказал: У меня есть участок с виноградом. Иди туда и часть урожая забери.

Слуга послушался и пошел на то место, на участок. Люди же, которые там работали, решили, что не будут ничего давать этому слуге. Они избили слугу и выгнали вон.

Он ушел с пустыми руками. Хозяин увидел, позвал другого слугу, также отправил его туда забрать часть урожая. Второй слуга пришел на место. Работники опять увидели слугу, между собой поговорили и решили, что не дадут ничего.

Они схватили его, избили по голове, очень сильно били, очень жестоко его избили. И тогда хозяин позвал третьего слугу и также отправил в то место. И третий слуга пришел туда, а те злые люди также ничего не дали, они схватили его и убили.

Хозяин говорит: Я сколько отправлял-посылал туда моих слуг, а те работники избивали их, убивали тех, кого я посылал туда.

Хозяин думал: Что же делать?

У него был единственный, любимый сын. Хозяин подумал: Если я отправлю сына они не посмеют его тронуть.

И он повелел сыну отправляться туда. Работники увидели сына и стали между собой сговариваться:

— Да ведь это же сын хозяина. Это он получит наследство и завладеет этим участком. Давайте мы его убьем и захватим этот участок себе!

Когда сын приблизился, они его схватили, убили и бросили за участок.

Что же тогда будет делать хозяин?

Конечно же, он придет, схватит этих работников и покарает их все смертью. А участок он отдаст другим людям.

Иисус сказал первосвященникам, книжникам, старейшинам:

— Вы ведь знаете, что написано в Писании:

Собрались люди, чтобы построить дом из камней. Вдруг они решили, что один камень не нужен и выбросили его. Они продолжали строить дом, но без этого камня. Господь повелел, чтобы этот камень был самый важный в доме. Увидели строители, что так Господь совершил чудо.

Старейшины, которые стояли вокруг, поняли, что Иисус рассказывает эту притчу против них. Они негодовали и хотели схватить Иисуса, но они не смогли этого сделать, потому что было очень много людей вокруг.

Они решили: Давайте лучше не будем ничего делать и уйдем.

И они ушли.

Back-translation by Luka Manevich

<< Mark 11:27-33 in Russian Sign Language
Mark 12:13-17 in Russian Sign Language >>

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Matt. 21:38 / Mark 12:7 / Luke 20:14)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the inclusive form (including vine-growers to each other).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Mark 12:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 12:7:

  • Uma: “‘But in fact, the ones who were taking care of the field, they took-counsel, they said: ‘There comes his child, he’s the one who will become the owner of this field. Let’s kill him, so that we will own this field.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But when the caretakers of the garden saw that son of his, they planned/conferred. They said, ‘He is hep the heir. Come, let us (incl.) kill (him) so that this garden will be ours (incl.).'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However when the son of the owner arrived, those who were in charge said, ‘At last, this is his son. Come on, let’s kill him so that we might inherit this grape orchard!'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘But on the arrival of his child, the joint-farmers said, ‘This is the heir (lit. inheritance owner) of this farm. Let’s kill him to take-over his inheritance!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Whereas those ones left in charge were saying, ‘Expletive, there’s that heir! Come on now. Let’s kill him, so that this ubas plantation which he will inherit will be ours.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 12:7

Exegesis:

klēronomos (only here in Mark; cf. klēronomeō 10.17) ‘heir.’

deute (cf. 1.17) ‘come!’

klēronomia (only here in Mark) ‘inheritance.’

Translation:

Heir is a term which corresponds to widespread cultural patterns and so is usually quite easily translated. However, the practice of passing on inheritance is not known in some societies, and hence a descriptive expression may be necessary, e.g. ‘this one will eventually be the owner’ (Shipibo-Conibo) or ‘he will receive his father’s land’ (Cashibo-Cacataibo).

Come as an exhortation for group activity may be more idiomatically rendered as ‘let’s get together’ or ‘let’s unite,’ for this is not the ‘come’ of travel, but of cooperation.

The inheritance may be literally ‘what he would receive’ or ‘what he will later own’; or one may use a more generic phrase, e.g. ‘the property’ or ‘this planted land.’

Will be ours may require transposition, e.g. ‘we will possess what he would get.’

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .