John the Baptist

The name that is transliterated as “John (the Baptist)” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language and Mexican Sign Language as “baptize” (source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“John the Baptist” in Mexican Sign Language (source: BSLM )

In German Sign Language (Catholic) it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying a Catholic baptism by sprinkling on the head.


“John” in German Sign Language /catholic, source: Taub und katholisch

In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying “shout,” referring to John 1:23. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“John” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Similarly, in French Sign Language, it is “prepare the way.” (Source: Lexique – Explications en langue des signes)

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign for leaping in the womb (see Luke 1:41) and baptism. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“John” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

A question of cultural assumptions arose in Tuvan. The instinctive way to translate this name denotatively would be “John the Dipper,” but this would carry the highly misleading connotation that he drowned people. It was therefore decided that his label should focus on the other major aspect of his work, that is, proclaiming that the Messiah would soon succeed him. (Compare his title in Russian Orthodox translation “Иоанн Предтеча” — “John the Forerunner.”) So he became “John the Announcer,” which fortunately did not seem to give rise to any confusion with radio newsreaders! (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )

In Noongar it is translated as John-Kakaloorniny or “John Washing” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also John the Baptist (icon).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: John the Baptist .

John the Baptist (icon)

Following is a Syriac Orthodox icon of John the Baptist from the 18/19th century (found in the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen, Yabrud, Syria).

 
The wings are often depicted in icons of John the Baptist because of his status as a messenger. The scroll that John the Baptist holds quotes John 1:29 and reads (translated into English): “I saw and witnessed concerning him, ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.’”

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also John the Baptist.

He gave sight to the physically and spiritually blind (image)

“In the religious cultures of Asia, it is often believed that people are blind because of their past karma. The blind often resort to begging in order to survive. Here the blind man stretches out his arms in a polite way to receive a donation but instead he connects with a healing touch. The onlookers are shocked to see Jesus making physical connection with a lowly beggar with bad karma.”

Drawing by Sawai Chinnawong who employs northern and central Thailand’s popular distinctive artistic style originally used to depict Buddhist moral principles and other religious themes; explanation by Paul DeNeui. From That Man Who Came to Save Us by Sawai Chinnawong and Paul H. DeNeui, William Carey Library, 2010.

For more images by Sawai Chinnawong in TIPs see here.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Divine Power in Mark 8 .

Mark 8:27 - 30 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 8:27-30 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 Jesús dijo: “¿Qué dicen las personas acerca de mi?”

Los discípulos, mientras caminaban, dijeron: “Las personas dicen que tú eres Juan el Bautista, otras personas dicen que tú eres Elías o otro profeta.”

Jesús (dijo): “Ahora uds ¿qué dicen sobre mi?” Pedro (dijo): “Tú eres el Cristo.”

Jesús los advirtió: “Esto, que yo soy el Cristo, no lo anuncien a la gente, silencio, es un secreto.”

Caminaban hacia Cesarea de Filipo.


Jesus and the disciples were walking and Jesus said: “What do the people say about me?”

Whilst walking the disciples said: “The people say you are John the Baptist, other people say that you are Elijah or another prophet.”

Jesus (said): “Now you, what do you say about me?” Peter (said): “You are the Christ.”

Jesus warned them: “That I am the Christ, don’t announce it to the people, keep quiet, it is a secret.”

They walked to Caesarea Philippi.

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

<< Mark 8:22-26 in Mexican Sign Language
Mark 8:31-38 in Mexican Sign Language >>

Mark 8:27-30 in Russian Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 8:27-30 into Russian Sign Language with a back-translation underneath:


Source: Russian Bible Society / Российское Библейское Общество

Jesus and his disciples were traveling to a village near the town of Caesarea Philippi. On the way, Jesus spoke to the disciples:

— Who do the people think I am?

The disciples answered:

— Some think you are John the Messenger. Others think you are Elijah the prophet. Still others think you are another prophet who lived before and has now come to life again.

Jesus asked the disciples:

— Who do you think I am?

Peter stepped forward among the disciples and said:

— I know that you are Jesus, God has chosen you.

Jesus said:

– Do not tell others who I am.

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

Иисус с учениками шли селения близ города Кесария Филиппова. В пути Иисус обратился к ученикам:

— Кем народ считает меня?

Ученики ответили:

— Некоторые считают, что ты — Иоанн Вестник. Другие считают, что ты — пророк Илия. Третьи считают, что ты другой пророк, который жил раньше, а сейчас вновь ожил.

Иисус спросил учеников:

— А вы кем считаете меня?

Среди учеников выступил вперед Петр и сказал:

— Я знаю, что ты — Иисус, Бог избрал тебя.

Иисус сказал:

— Не говорите всем, кто я такой.

Back-translation by Luka Manevich

<< Mark 8:22-26 in Russian Sign Language
Mark 8:31-33 in Russian Sign Language >>

formal pronoun: disciples addressing Jesus

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff. ), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, individual or several disciples address Jesus with the formal pronoun, expressing respect. Compare this to how that address changes after the resurrection.

In most Dutch as well as in Western Frisian and Afrikaans translations, the disciples address Jesus before and after the resurrection with the formal pronoun.

See also this devotion on YouVersion .

complete verse (Mark 8:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 8:28:

  • Uma: “They said to him: ‘There are some who say you are Yohanes the Baptizer come back to life. There are also some who say you are the prophet Elia. There are also some who say you are a prophet of long ago who has come back to life. ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They answered, they said, ‘There are people who say that you are ko’ Yahiya who bathed people being alive again. Others also say that you are ko’ Nabi Eliyas. And there are also some who say that you are ko’ one of the prophets of old.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they answered, they said, ‘There are some who say that you are John the Baptist raised from the dead, and some say that you are ancient Elijah, – and others say that you are one of the ancient prophets of God.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Some say that you (sing.) are Juan the Baptizer. Others say that you (sing.) are Elias, and others also say that you (sing.) are one of the prophets of long-ago,’ they answered.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “His disciples replied, saying, ‘Some say you are Juan who was baptizing. Well as for others, they say you are Prophet Elias. Well there are those too who say you are one of the prophets of the past who has come alive again.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Choapan Zapotec: “… ‘Some say, John the Baptist, who lives again, and others say that you are Elijah who lives again, and others say that you are a man who preached God’s word a long time ago who lives again.” (Source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

Elijah

The name that is transliterated as “Elijah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “whirlwind” (according to 2 Kings 2:11) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elijah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see how other sign languages are translating “Elijah”

In American Sign Language it is translated with a depiction of being taken up to heaven with a chariot of fire. (Source: ASL Sign Language Directory )


“Elijah” in American Sign Language (source )

Likewise in Estonian Sign Language, but with a different sign (source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff.)


“Elijah” in Estonian Sign Language (source )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “fire” (referring to 1 Kings 18:38). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Elijah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of Elijah from the late 13h century.

 
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Elijah .