betray

The Greek that is translated as “betray” in English does not have an immediately corresponding term in Tado. The term that was chosen there was “sell.” (Source: Budy Karmoy in this blog post )

Judas (the disciple)

The term that is transliterated as “Judas” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying holding a bag of money, referring to John 12:6. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with with the sign for “kiss,” referring to Matthew 26:49 et al. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Painting by Nalini Jayasuriya (1927 – 2014). “Jayasuriya grew up in Sri Lanka and later studied art in England. She experimented with many forms of art hut is best known for her acrylic and pastel paintings on Biblical themes. She has written extensively on art subjects and held many exhibitions. In her painting of Judas the tortured face of the disciple reflects some of the complexities of the man who betrayed Jesus.” (Source for this and the image: The Bible Through Asian Eyes by Masao Takenaka and Ron O’Grady 1991)

See more images of Nalini Jayasuriya.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Judas .

complete verse (Matthew 10:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 10:4:

  • Uma: “The names of those twelve apostles/sent ones of Yesus are these: First, Simon, who is also called/named Petrus; after that, Andreas the relative of Simon; Yakobus the child of Zebedeus; Yohanes the relative of Yakobus; Filipus; Bartolomeus; Tomas; Matius the tax collector; Yakobus the son of Alfeus; Tadeus; Simon the Zelot; and Yudas Iskariot (he’s the one who will sell Yesus to his enemies).” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Simon, he is the challenger, and Judas Iskariyot. This Judas was the one who betrayed Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Simon, one of the members of the Canaanite group, and Judas from Kerioth, the one who turned Jesus over to the Jews.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Simon who was called Patriota because he showed-concern-for his country, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Simon the Cananeo and Judas Iscariote, he being the person who, the time would come when he would be the one to lead the ones wanting to kill Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Simon, who was in the party of the Cananistas. And Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 10:4

A second Simon is listed; he is further identified as the Cananaean. There is some discussion regarding the meaning of the word transliterated Cananaean by Revised Standard Version and translated “Patriot” by Good News Translation. Most modern commentators understand the word to be an Aramaic equivalent of “zealot,” referring to the zealous group of Jewish revolutionaries who were anti-Rome. New American Bible renders “the Zealot Party member,” New English Bible “a member of the Zealot party,” and Barclay “the Nationalist.” The presupposition of an Aramaic or a Hebrew background for the word Cananaean is supported by Luke, who specifically refers to him as “the Zealot” (6.15).

The concept conveyed by Cananaean, “zealot,” or “nationalist” is very difficult to translate in many cultures. In some cases “who was strong for his country (or, people)” works well enough. In some parts of Africa “freedom fighter” has been the closest natural equivalent, or “who worked to free his people.”

There is disagreement regarding the meaning of the name Iscariot, and so no less than four solutions have been proposed: (1) It has been held to mean “man of Kariot,” a wording found in some manuscripts of John 6.71. (2) Others believe “Kariot” to be a corruption of the Greek word for Jericho, according to which his name would mean “man of Jericho.” (3) Still others have traced his name back to the Latin word sicarius (“murderous”), which derives from the noun sicar (“curved dagger”), thereby making a connection with the Zealot movement. (4) Finally, some see here a reflection of the Aramaic word meaning “false one” or “deceiver,” in which case the title would reflect the name given Judas by the first Christians. If this solution is accepted, then the name would be equivalent to “who betrayed Jesus” (Good News Translation). If this latter suggestion is accepted, then a possible translation is “Judas called Iscariot, which means he betrayed Jesus.” However, it is best in translation to treat Iscariot as a name without attempting to give it meaning.

The text has who betrayed him, but since he had not yet done that, some render it “who later betrayed Jesus.” Note that him refers to Jesus, as Good News Translation has made clear.

It seems likely that most cultures understand betrayal and so will have a good way to translate betrayed. However, some will have to say “gave him over to his enemies” or “helped his enemies to catch (or, arrest) him.” In some cases it is necessary to add “even though he was his friend” or “even though Jesus trusted him.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .