truly truly - I tell you

The Greek that is often translated in English as “truly, truly, I tell you” or similar is translated in the Russian BTI translation (publ. 2015) as Поверьте Мне (Pover’te Mne) or “trust me.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Amen.

taste death

The Greek and Latin that is translated as “taste death” in English is translated in Guhu-Samane as “die” because “the term suggests cannibalism to Papua New Guinea natives.”

Source: Ernest L. Richert in Notes on Translation December 1963: p. 4-7; reprinted in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. .

Mark 9:1 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 9:1 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 advirtió: “Yo les digo la verdad, un día en el futuro algunos de uds mismos serán elegidos para todavía estar vivos y ver con sus propios ojos que viene el poderoso reino de Dios.


Jesus warned: “I tell you the truth, one day in the future some of you yourselves will be chosen to still be alive and see with their own eyes the powerful kingdom of God coming.”

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

<< Mark 8:31-38 in Mexican Sign Language
Mark 9:2-13 in Mexican Sign Language >>

Mark 8:34-9:1 in Russian Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 8:34-9:1 into Russian Sign Language with a back-translation underneath:


Source: Russian Bible Society / Российское Библейское Общество

Jesus called the many people together, as well as his disciples.

Jesus said:

— Whoever among you wants to follow me must forsake his private life, his desires. Throughout his life he will accept many oppressions, sufferings until death. If a person is ready for all these things, he can follow me. If a person does not try to save his life, if he leaves his interests for me and for the good news, then the life of such a person will be saved in eternal life.

And the one who tries to save his life and lives for his own sake, the life of such a person will be lost. A man wants to get more riches, but still the life of such a person will be lost. What is the use of riches? Is it possible to buy eternal life with riches? No.

There are those and people who will be ashamed to tell about me before sinners and godless people, but will keep silent. But in the future, I will appear in a white robe, in all the glory of the Father and angels will be around me. And then, I will see people who have been ashamed of me, and I will be ashamed of them too.

And some people who are standing here, even before they die, will see the Kingdom of God in all its power.

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

Иисус созвал множество народа, а также своих учеников.

Иисус сказал:

— Кто из вас хочет последовать за мной, тот должен оставить свою личную жизнь, свои желания. В течение всей его жизни он примет множество притеснений, страданий до самой смерти. Если человек готов ко всем этому, он может последовать за мной. Если человек не старается сберечь свою жизнь, если оставляет свои интересы ради меня и ради благой вести, то жизнь такого человека будет спасена в жизни вечной.

А тот, кто старается свою жизнь сберечь и живет ради себя, то жизнь такого человека будет потеряна. Вот человек хочет получить побольше богатств, но все равно жизнь такого человека будет потеряна. Какая польза от богатства? Разве можно купить за богатство вечную жизнь? Нет.

Есть и такие и люди, которые постыдятся рассказать обо мне перед грешниками и безбожниками, но будут молчать. Но в будущем я предстану в белой одежде, во всей славе Отца и ангелы будут вокруг меня. И вот тогда, я увижу людей, которые постыдились меня, и я их тоже постыжусь.

И некоторые люди, которые стоят здесь, еще до своей смерти увидят Царство Божье во всей силе.

Back-translation by Luka Manevich

<< Mark 8:31-33 in Russian Sign Language
Mark 9:2-8 in Russian Sign Language >>

complete verse (Mark 9:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 9:1:

  • Uma: “Yesus also said: ‘Indeed I tell you: From among you here, some of you will not die before you see God rule with his power.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa said yet, ‘Truly I say to you, some of you who are here will not die if you have not first seen the ruling of God and his ruling is really powerful.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then Jesus spoke, he said, ‘Remember this. There are some of our companions here who will not die until the time when God reveals his chosen king whose power to rule mankind is very great.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then he continued saying, ‘This that I say is true that there are those of you here whose death will not yet have occurred and they will see the power of God in his ruling.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “What Jesus further said to them was, ‘This which I will say to you really is true, that there are a few here today who won’t die until they have seen the arrival of the kingdom of God through his supernatural-power which can’t be equalled.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tzotzil: “…. ‘Truly I tell you, those of you who are gathered here, there will be some of you who will not die until you understand how God puts people under his orders with power.'”
  • Korku: “… ‘The kingdom of God will come with power. Truly I say to you,there are some standing here who will see this before they die.'” (Source: for this and above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

kingdom (of God / heaven) (God's finalized creation in the future)

In the German Gute Nachricht (Good News) translation of 1982, this occurrence of the Greek term which is translated in most English versions of “kingdom (of God or heaven)” is translated with a form of “once God finalizes his creation (or “work”) . . . ” (Wenn Gott sein Werk vollendet . . .). For an explanation of the differentiated translation in German as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see Kingdom (of God / heaven).

formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

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, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.