Christ, Messiah

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The Greek Christos (Χρηστός) is typically transliterated when it appears together with Iésous (Ἰησοῦς) (Jesus). In English the transliteration is the Anglicized “Christ,” whereas in many other languages it is based on the Greek or Latin as “Kristus,” “Cristo,” or similar.

When used as a descriptive term in the New Testament — as it’s typically done in the gospels (with the possible exceptions of for instance John 1:17 and 17:3) — Christos is seen as the Greek translation of the Hebrew mashiaḥ (המשיח‎) (“anointed”). Accordingly, a transliteration of mashiaḥ is used, either as “Messiah” or based on the Greek or Latin as a form of “Messias.”

This transliteration is also used in the two instances where the Greek term Μεσσίας (Messias) is used in John 1:41 and 4:25.

In some languages and some translations, the term “Messiah” is supplemented with an explanation. Such as in the German Gute Nachricht with “the Messiah, the promised savior” (Wir haben den Messias gefunden, den versprochenen Retter) or in Muna with “Messiah, the Saving King” (Mesias, Omputo Fosalamatino) (source: René van den Berg).

In predominantly Muslim areas or for Bible translations for a Muslim target group, Christos is usually transliterated from the Arabic al-Masih (ٱلْمَسِيحِ) — “Messiah.” In most cases, this practice corresponds with languages that also use a form of the Arabic Isa (عيسى) for Jesus (see Jesus). There are some exceptions, though, including modern translations in Arabic which use Yasua (يَسُوعَ) (coming from the Aramaic Yēšūa’) alongside a transliteration of al-Masih, Hausa which uses Yesu but Almahisu, and some Fula languages (Adamawa Fulfulde, Nigerian Fulfulde, and Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde) which also use a form of Iésous (Yeesu) but Almasiihu (or Almasiifu) for Christos.

In Indonesian, while most Bible translations had already used Yesus Kristus rather than Isa al Masih, three public holidays used to be described using the term Isa Al Masih. From 2024 on, the government is using Yesus Kristus in those holiday names instead (see this article in Christianity Today ).

Other solutions that are used by a number of languages include these:

  • Dobel: “The important one that God had appointed to come” (source: Jock Hughes)
  • Noongar: Keny Mammarap or “The One Man” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Mairasi: “King of not dying for life all mashed out infinitely” (for “mashed out,” see salvation; source: Lloyd Peckham)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “One chosen by God to rule mankind” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Bacama: Ma Pwa a Ngɨltən: “The one God has chosen” (source: David Frank in this blog post )
  • Binumarien: Anutuna: originally a term that was used for a man that was blessed by elders for a task by the laying on of hands (source: Desmond Oatridges, Holzhausen 1991, p. 49f.)
  • Noongar: Keny Boolanga-Yira Waangki-Koorliny: “One God is Sending” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uab Meto: Neno Anan: “Son of heaven” P. Middelkoop explains: “The idea of heavenly power bestowed on a Timorese king is rendered in the title Neno Anan. It is based on the historical fact that chiefs in general came from overseas and they who come thence are believed to have come down from heaven, from the land beyond the sea, that means the sphere of God and the ghosts of the dead. The symbolical act of anointing has been made subservient to the revelation of an eternal truth and when the term Neno Anan is used as a translation thereof, it also is made subservient to a new revelation of God in Jesus Christ. The very fact that Jesus came from heaven makes this translation hit the mark.” (Source: P. Middelkoop in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 183ff. )

In Finnish Sign Language both “Christ” and “Messiah” are translated with a sign signifying “king.” (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Christ / Messiah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Law (2013, p. 97) writes about how the Ancient Greek Septuagint‘s translation of the Hebrew mashiah was used by the New Testament writers as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments (click or tap here to read more):

“Another important word in the New Testament that comes from the Septuagint is christos, ‘Christ.’ Christ is not part of the name of the man from Nazareth, as if ‘the Christs’ were written above the door of his family home. Rather, ‘Christ’ is an explicitly messianic title used by the writers of the New Testament who have learned this word from the Septuagint’s translation of the Hebrew mashiach, ‘anointed,’ which itself is often rendered in English as ‘Messiah.’ To be sure, one detects a messianic intent on the part of the Septuagint translator in some places. Amos 4:13 may have been one of these. In the Hebrew Bible, God ‘reveals his thoughts to mortals,’ but the Septuagint has ‘announcing his anointed to humans.’ A fine distinction must be made, however, between theology that was intended by the Septuagint translators and that developed by later Christian writers. In Amos 4:13 it is merely possible we have a messianic reading, but it is unquestionably the case that the New Testament writers exploit the Septuagint’s use of christos, in Amos and elsewhere, to messianic ends.”

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Christ .

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Mark 9:41

Exegesis:

Apparently for stylistic reasons Revised Standard Version has changed amēn legō humin ‘truly I say to you’ from the position it occupies in the Greek text to the beginning of the verse.

potisē humas potērion hudatos ‘he should give you to drink a cup of water’: the verb potisē ‘should give to drink’ takes two direct objects in Greek, humas ‘you’ and potērion hudatos ‘a cup of water.’

potizō (15.36) ‘give to drink,’ ‘make to drink.’

potērion (cf. 7.4) ‘a cup.’

en onomati hoti ‘in the name that’: the phrase means ‘on the ground that’ (Moulton & Milligan quote a papyrus in which the phrase onomati eleutherou means ‘in virtue of being freeborn’; Goodspeed, ‘on the ground that you belong to Christ’); onoma ‘name’ is used with the meaning ‘title,’ ‘category’: ‘under the category that you belong to Christ,’ ‘in your capacity as a follower of Christ.’ Most translations use ‘because’ (American Standard Version, Moffatt, Montgomery, The Modern Speech New Testament, Manson; Lagrange pour la raison que vous êtes au Christ); the Revised Standard Version ‘because you bear the name of Christ’ is more interpretive in character. Translator’s New Testament has ‘in the Name, for you are Messiah’s.’

misthon (only here in Mark) ‘pay,’ ‘wages,’ ‘reward.’

For ou mē ‘not’ cf. 9.1; apollumi ‘lose’ cf. 1.24.

Translation:

For syntactic problems involving truly see 8.12.

The order adopted in the Revised Standard Version with respect to the expression truly, I say to you is generally better in most languages, since the direct discourse is not interrupted.

In some languages cup must be translated in terms of the closest equivalent, e.g. ‘little calabash’ (Southern Bobo Madaré). In other instances one cannot say ‘cup of water,’ but ‘water in a cup’ (Barrow Eskimo).

The verb give must always be treated with care, for there are many implications involved in some languages. For example, there may be two entirely different terms, depending upon whether (1) the gift is one in which an equivalent gift is expected in return (known as exchange gifts, and constituting a highly formalized type of indigenous barter) or (2) the object is one given without any regard for compensation. It is this latter meaning which should be indicated here. On the other hand, languages also distinguish between gifts which are prompted by evident need and those which are wholly without reference to such circumstances. Something of this point of view is suggested in the Copainalá Zoque rendering, ‘whoever lets you ask for a cup of water,’ implying that the man responds to the need.

Bear the name of Christ may be translated as ‘are called by the name of Christ’ (literally, ‘have the name of being Christian’ Amganad Ifugao). On the other hand, Greek onomati ‘name’ would seem to be used more in the sense of ‘because of’ or ‘on the basis that,’ and hence one may translate as ‘because you belong to Christ’ (Tzeltal).

Lose his reward is often badly mistranslated, implying that after the man has received his reward he will not forthwith lose it by misplacing it. The more idiomatic way of saying this in some languages is ‘he will certainly get what is to be given to him’ (Guerrero Amuzgo) or ‘he will certainly receive the pay for his hand’ (Tzeltal). In this latter expression ‘pay for his hand’ is the compensation which is gained for anything which a man has done with his hands. If it were an errand he had run, then he would receive ‘the pay for his feet.’

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 .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 9:41

9:41a

Indeed: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Indeed is often translated as “For” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This conjunction probably indicates that 9:41 is an example that explains the principle in 9:40. Some versions do not translate this word. You should connect 9:40 and 9:41 in a way that is natural in your language.

if anyone gives you even a cup of water: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gives you even a cup of water is literally “give to drink a cup of water.” The Berean Standard Bible has left the words “to drink” implied.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

anyone who gives to you even only a cup of water to drink
-or-
if a person gives a small thing like a cup of water for you to drink

You should translate this phrase in a natural way in your language.

When someone gives a believer some water to drink, that deed is a small act of kindness. That deed is used as an example here. The person who gives water to a believer shows that he is “for Christ” (9:40), even if only in a small way.

you: The pronoun you here refers to the disciples. But it refers generally to any believer. The pronoun you is plural in Greek, but this does not indicate that many people have to share one cup of water. So in some languages it may be natural to translate the you as singular. Use an expression that refers generally to any believer.

a cup of water: The word cup indicates a small amount of water. It is perhaps a mouthful or two of water. You may want to use a container of that size that is usually used for drinking water in your area. Or you can just refer to a single drink of water. For example, the Good News Bible says:

a drink of water

9:41b

because: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have the words in name. The next Greek word then means “that.” The phrase “in name that” is an idiom that means “on the basis that” or “because.” For example:

because (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
on the understanding that

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, (The Good News Bible substitutes the word “Christ” with the pronoun “me.”) New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation, God’s Word, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have the words in my name. The next Greek word then means “because.” For example, the New International Version says:

in my name because

(New International Version, King James Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1).

you bear the name of Christ: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you bear the name of Christ is literally “you are Christ’s.” Believers have a relationship with Christ and he is head or leader of that relationship. Jesus referred to himself as the Christ here.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you(plur) are Christ’s people
-or-
you belong to me, the Christ
-or-
because you are followers of the Messiah (Revised English Bible)

Christ: The Jews used the title Christ to refer to the special person whom God had appointed and promised to send as king and savior. The title Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah,” and the two words have the same meaning.

In this context you may need to indicate that Jesus was using this title to refer to himself. Here are some ways to translate Christ in this context:

• Transliterate it according to the sounds of your language. For example:

Krais
-or-
me, Karisiti

• Transliterate it and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:

the Christ
-or-
me, the Kirisita

• Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:

Christ, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the savior God promised
-or-
me, the Christ who comes from God

If you do not indicate in the text that Jesus was referring to himself as the Christ, you may want to include a footnote to explain this. For example:

Jesus referred here to himself as the “Christ.” The title “Christ” refers to the King and Savior whom God had promised to send.

See how you translated this word in 1:1 and 8:29c. See also Christ in the Glossary.

9:41c

truly I tell you: Jesus used the phrase truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and totally reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it. Jesus used this phrase eight times in Mark. (Jesus also used the words “I tell you” to emphasize something. The words “Truly I tell you” are even more emphatic than “I tell you.”)

See how you translated this phrase in 9:1a. In some languages you may need to translate the phrase differently in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.

Here are some ways that English versions have translated the phrase in this context:

I can guarantee this truth: (God’s Word)
-or-
I assure you (Good News Bible)

See the General Comment on 9:41a–d after 9:41d for examples of other ways to order the parts of this verse.

9:41d

he will never lose his reward: This statement is a figure of speech which has two negative ideas: never and lose. Jesus used these two negative ideas to emphasize the opposite meaning. This positive meaning may be expressed as:

will truly get his reward (New Century Version)
-or-
will surely be rewarded (Contemporary English Version)

The words will never lose do not refer to a person placing his reward somewhere and then later not being able to find it.

reward: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reward can mean “wages” or “recompense” or “reward.” It can be either positive or negative depending on what a person deserves. In this context it refers to something good that God will give to the person mentioned in 9:41a. God will give a reward because that person gave a cup of water to a believer. You may need to make it explicit that God will give the reward. For example:

God will surely reward him.

General Comment on 9:41a–d

In some languages it may be more natural to place the phrase “I tell you the truth” in a different position in the verse. For example:

If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. (New Living Translation)
-or-
For example, if someone gives even a drink of water to you because you believe in me, the Christ, God will certainly reward that person. I can assure you this is absolutely true.

Place this phrase where it is natural in your language.

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