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The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

Other translations include:

  • San Blas Kuna: “help the heart”
  • Laka: “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver”
  • Huautla Mazatec: “lift out on behalf of”
  • Anuak: “have life because of”
  • Central Mazahua: “be healed in the heart”
  • Baoulé: “save one’s head”
  • Guerrero Amuzgo: “come out well”
  • Northwestern Dinka: “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source for all above: Bratcher / Nida),
  • Matumbi: “rescue (from danger)” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
  • Noongar: barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • South Bolivian Quechua: “make to escape”
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand” (source for this and one above: Nida 1947, p. 222)
  • Bariai: “retrieve one back” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

See also salvation and save (Japanese honorifics).

he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

complete verse (Matthew 24:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 24:13:

  • Uma: “But the people who believe in me until the end, they are the ones who will get goodness [salvation] in the future.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But whoever endures until the end of this persecution has life in heaven without end.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, he who still believes at the end of the torments, he is the one who who will be given eternal life.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But whoever perseveres in believing/obeying, not giving-out (as water-source), he will be saved.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But as for those who hold fast their trust-in/relying-on and belief-in/obeying-of me until the end-time comes, it’s certain they will be saved.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But the person who does not separate from me, who endures whatever he suffers, is the one who will save his life.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

survive / escape / save

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “survive,” “escape,” “save,” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) in these verses with pulumuka, describing someone whose life was in danger but who has freed himself or herself. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 24:13

In Mark’s Gospel (13.13) he who endures to the end is placed in the context of the need for faithfulness during a time of persecution. But for Matthew the emphasis is different; this saying signifies the need for standing firm against false prophets and for showing love in a world where evil is constantly spreading. In fact, the “wickedness” of which Matthew speaks in verse 12 is probably no less than the opposite of love.

Will be saved: this verse is identical to 10.22b. Translators should see comments there. Will be saved here is definitely used in the full Christian sense of one’s final salvation.

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 .