complete verse (Matthew 21:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 21:10:

  • Uma: “When Yesus entered into the town of Yerusalem, the citizens were startled, they said: ‘Who is this?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then when Isa arrived in Awrusalam, all the people were startled/amazed and they said, ‘Who is this person?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when Jesus arrived in the town of Jerusalem, the people were excited. They asked each other saying, ‘Who is he?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Upon Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, all the inhabitants were disturbed/in-an-uproar and they said, ‘Who is this truly?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When Jesus arrived at Jerusalem, the people of the city were overwhelmed. They were saying, ‘Friend, whoever is this?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. All the people were crowding about to see what was going on. The people said: ‘Who is this man?'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("enter")

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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, hai-rare-ru (入られる) or “enter” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Matthew 21:10

In place of he, Good News Translation has “Jesus” because the mention of “God” and “the Lord” in the previous verse may be confusing if the proper name is not used here.

Was stirred (so also An American Translation, New International Version) is translated “was thrown into an uproar” by Good News Translation. New English Bible is probably best: “went wild with excitement” (compare Moffatt “was in excitement over him”). For some a simple phrase like “everyone in the city became excited” may be most natural. The same verb is used of the earthquake which took place following the crucifixion (27.51), and of the guards who witnessed the angel of the Lord roll away the stone from the tomb (28.4). The related noun is used in 8.24; 24.7; 27.54; 28.2, translated “earthquake” or “great storm.”

All the city … saying is clearly a reference to the people of the city, and so both New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate “people asked.” Good News Translation is similar except for the definite article: “the people asked.”

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 .