not one stone will be left here upon another

The now commonly-used German idiom es wird nicht ein Stein auf dem anderen bleiben (literally “not one stone will be left upon another”), which today is primarily used with the meaning of an upcoming complete destruction or overhaul of something was made popular in the 1522 German New Testament translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Redewendungen aus der Bibel )

For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

Mark 13:1 - 13 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 13:1-13 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 y los discípulos estaban caminando y los discípulos dijeron: “Meastro ve el templo, qué tan grande son las piedras, ¡huy, es maravilloso!”

Jesús (dijo): “¡¿Ver qué tan grande es el templo?! Les advierto, en el futuro el templo se caerá y será destruido.”

El grupo siguió caminando y después en el Monte de los olivos Jesús se sentó a ver el templo que estaba enfrente. Cuando Pedro, Jacobo, Juan y Andrés vieron que no había otra gente fueron a él.

Dijeron: “Jesús, lo que explicaste ahorita ¿cuándo vendrá por cierto? ¿Cómo lo descubrimos?”

Jesús (dijo): “Mira, les explico, en el futuro uds oirán que ya ha venido una guerro y personas les advertirán que haya otra guerra, pero uds no se asusten, todavía no se acaba el mundo.

Mira, en el futuro en diferentes lugares del mundo habrá guerras y terremotos fuertes y hambre

y también habrá personas falsas que hablan disimulando: ‘Yo soy Jesúcristo’ y engañaran a la gente, muchas personas lo creerán: ¿de veras, de veras? y caerán en el engaño.

Cuidado, uds se alejen, estas cinco cosas son el comienzo del sufrimiento pero todavía no se acaba el mundo.

Es necesario que primero el evangelio será predicado y anunciado en diferentes idiomas y esparcido por el mundo.

Les advierto, tengan cuidado. En el futuro otras personas los agarrarán y los llevarán al juez y también en las sinagogas las personas los maltratarán y azotarán y cuando terminen los llevarán ante el gobierno o el rey porque uds creen en mi, Jesús. Uds cuentenles su testimonio.

Oigan, cuando las personas los arresten no se preocupen imaginando: ‘¿Qué voy a decir ante el juez?’ No se preocupen, el espíritu santo les ayudará suficiente para que uds puedan contarles.

Les advierto: en el futuro un hermano verá que su hermano cree en Jesús y lo entregará y matarán a su hermano, un papá verá que su hijo cree en Jesús y lo entregará y su hijo será matado, y habrá hijos que verán que sus padres creen en Jesús y estarán en contra y matarán sus padres.

Les advierto personas en todo el mundo les odiarán porque uds creen en mi, Jesús, pero si uds son fieles hasta la muerta serán salvados.”

Marcos escribió: “Uds necesitan leerlo y entenderlo.”


Jesus and the disciples were walking and the disciples said: “Teacher, look at the temple, how big its stones are, wow it’s wonderful!”

Jesus (said): “Look at how big the temple is?! I warn you, in the future the temple will fall down and be destroyed.”

The group continued walking and afterwards on the Mount of olives Jesus sat down opposite the temple to see it. When Peter, James, John and Andrew saw that there were no people around, they went up to him.

They said: “Jesus, what you told us just now, when will that come true? How will we find out?”

Jesus (said): “Look, I’ll explain it to you, in the future you will hear that a war has come and people will warn you that there is another war, but do not be frightened, it is not the end of the world yet.

“Look, in the future there will be wars in different parts of the world and strong earthquakes and hunger band there will also be false people who will talk pretending: ‘I am Jesus Christ’ and they will deceive the people and many people will believe it (they will go) ‘really, really?’ and they will fall for it.

“Be careful, stay away from them, these five things are the beginning of the suffering but it is not the end of the world yet.

“It is necessary that the gospel first be preached and announced in different languages and spread throughout the world.

“I warn you be careful. In the future other people will take hold of you and take you to the judge and also in the synagogues the people will mistreat you and whip you and when they are done they will take you before the government or the king because you believe in me, Jesus. Tell them your testimony.

“Listen, when people arrest you do not worry, imagining: ”What will I say before the judge?’ Don’t worry, the Holy Spirit will help you sufficiently so that you can tell them.

“I warn you, in the future a brother will see that his brother believed in Jesus, and he will hand him over and they will kill his brother, a father will see that his son believes in Jesus and he will hand him over and his son will be killed, and there will be some children who will see that their parents believe in Jesus and they will be against them and kill their parents.

“I warn you that people in the whole world will hate you because you believe in me, Jesus, but if you are faithful until death, you will be saved.”

Mark wrote: “You need to read it and understand it.”

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

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Mark 13:14-23 in Mexican Sign Language >>

Mark 13:1-13 in Russian Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 13:1-13 into Russian Sign Language with a back-translation underneath:


Source: Russian Bible Society / Российское Библейское Общество

Jesus and his disciples left the Temple. One of the disciples looked at the Temple, admired it, and said:

— Teacher, look at this Temple! It’s big, beautiful, the stones are so strong!

Jesus answered:

— Yes, the Temple is large and beautiful, but the time will come when it will be completely destroyed, not a single stone will remain intact.

Jesus went up to the Mount of Olives. The Temple was clearly visible from the Mount of Olives. Only four disciples were with Jesus: Peter, James, John, Andrew. The disciples began to ask Jesus:

— Tell us, what will be the sign that the Temple will soon be destroyed?

Jesus answered them:

— First, many people will say: “God sent me, I am Christ.” Many will teach this. But they are liars. Many people will listen to them and believe them. But you, beware! Do not believe them!

Secondly, rumors will spread that wars are happening in different places, that one kingdom is going to war against another.

Thirdly, earthquakes will occur here and there throughout the earth. Fourthly, there will be famine and various troubles throughout the earth. But do not be afraid when you look at all this, do not think that this is the end of the world. All these events are signs to be prepared. This is only the beginning of great suffering. It is like, for example, a woman, when it is time for her to give birth, she has contractions before labor. Be prepared for different people to grab you and take you to court. There, in the house of judgment, they will beat you. They will grab you and lead you before the rulers, so that you proclaim me, Jesus Christ, there. But first, all the peoples of the earth will know the Good News about me.

When you are brought to trial, do not worry about how to speak. The Spirit that is in you will explain it to you.

I also tell you that one brother will be angry with another brother because he believed in me, and he will kill him. Likewise, parents will be angry with their own children who believed in Christ, they will be angry with them and kill them. Also, children will be angry and will kill their own parents who believed in Jesus. People will hate you because you believed in Jesus.

But a person who stands firm and follows Christ, despite all the difficulties, God will save such a person and grant him eternal life.

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

Иисус вместе с учениками вышел из Храма. Один из учеников смотрел на Храм, восхищался и сказал:

— Учитель, смотри какой Храм! Большой, красивый, камни такие крепкие!

Иисус ответил:

— Да, Храм большой красивый, но придет время, когда он будет полностью разрушен, ни одного камня целого не останется.

Иисус поднялся на Масличную гору. Прямо с Масличной горы хорошо был виден Храм. С Иисусом были только четверо учеников — Петр, Иаков, Иоанн, Андрей. Ученики стали спрашивать Иисуса:

— Подскажи нам, как будет знамение, что Храм скоро разрушится?

Иисус им ответил:

— Во-первых, многие люди станут говорить: «это меня послал Бог, я — Христос». Многие стану так учить. Но они — лжецы. Многие люди их послушают и поверят. Но вы же, берегитесь! Не верьте им!

В-вторых, будут распространяться слухи, что в разных местах происходят войны, что одно царство идет войной на другое.

В-третьих, по всей земле то тут, то там будут происходить землетрясения. В-четвертых, по всей земле будет голод и разные беды. Но вы, глядя на все это, не бойтесь, не думайте, что это конец мира. Эти все события — знамения, чтобы быть готовым. Это лишь начало великих страданий. Это как, например, женщина, когда ей пришло время родить, перед родами у нее схватки. Будьте готовы, что разные люди будут хватать вас и вести на суд. Там, в доме суда, вас будут бить. Будут вас хватать и вести пред лицо правителей, чтобы вы там возвещали обо мне, Иисусе Христе. Но сначала все народы земли узнают обо мне Радостную Весть.

Когда вас поведут на суд, не беспокойтесь, как говорить. Дух, который будет в вас, он объяснит вам.

Еще говорю вам, что один брат, будет гневаться на другого брата за то, что тот поверил мне, и убьет его. Так же и родители, будут гневаться на собственных детей, которые поверили в Христа, будут гневаться на них и убивать. Также дети будут гневаться и будут убивать собственных родителей, которые поверили в Иисус. Люди будут ненавидеть вас, по причине того что вы уверовали в Иисуса.

Но человек, который твердо стоит и идет за Христом, несмотря на все трудности, такого человека Бог спасет и одарит его вечной жизнью.

Back-translation by Luka Manevich

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Mark 13:14-23 in Russian Sign Language >>

complete verse (Mark 13:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 13:2:

  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘You (sing.) see all these big houses? There won’t be a single rock that is left stacked up. It will all be destroyed.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa said to them, ‘This big temple will finally fall. There is a day in the future, when none of those stones placed-on-top-of-each-other (magbangkat-bangkat) will be left here, but all will be scattered.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said to him, he said, ‘That large church built of stone, in the future not even one stone will be sitting on top of another, for they will all be scattered.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Yes granted,’ said Jesus, ‘you are seeing all these large buildings, but in the future they will all be scattered, because not even a single stone will remain in its place.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied, saying, ‘As for these big buildings which you are looking at now, all will be destroyed. For the day will come when no stone/rock will be left on the rock it is stacked on. All will be caused to collapse.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 13:2

Text:

Before lithos ‘stone’ Westcott & Hort, Souter, Soden, Vogels (in brackets), Lagrange, and Taylor add hōdē ‘here,’ which is omitted by Textus Receptus, Tischendorf, Nestle, Merk, and Kilpatrick.

Exegesis:

ou mē aphethē ‘will not be left’: the double negative is emphatic. For aphiēmi ‘leave’ cf. 2.5.

ou mē kataluthē ‘will not be torn down’: also emphatic. The sense of the two clauses is, ‘No two stones will be left standing together’ – so thorough will the destruction of the Temple be.

kataluō (14.58; 15.29) ‘destroy,’ ‘demolish,’ ‘tear down.’

Translation:

Said may be ‘replied,’ if the point of view in the receptor language is the previous exclamation, or ‘asked,’ if what follows governs the form of the verb introducing direct discourse.

Great is to be understood in terms of size, not importance.

The Greek text does not mean that no two stones will be left one on top of another (that is to say, Jesus did not prophesy that the stones would all be spread out singly on the ground), but that no two joining stones would be left together. In Copainalá Zoque this is well rendered by ‘will not remain a stone on stones’ companion.’ One may also translate this prophecy as ‘no two stones will be left together; they will all be thrown down.’ In Tzeltal the relationships of the stones in the first part of the expression is made somewhat more explicit by the phrase ‘these stones that are built up.’

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 .