fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Matthew 25:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 25:10:

  • Uma: “So the stupid young-women did go to buy oil. While they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five young women who were wise, since their torches were already ready, they right away went into the feasting/partying house with the bridegroom, and they closed the door.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, the stupid ones went to buy. While they were gone the bridegroom arrived. The five girls who were ready went with him into the house of the wedding, then the door was closed.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. And these five virgins who were wise, they went with him into the house where the wedding was. And after they had gone inside, the house was shut up.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘So then, they went to buy. But when they had gone, the man-getting-married arrived. The young-ladies who were waiting already-prepared, they went-with (him) to the house where they were going. They joined-in-entering to join-in-eating and join-in-celebrating with the other invited ones, and then it was closed (door).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, those five simple-minded ones set out. After they had left, that man arrived who was being married. Well, as for those five who were prepared, they went into the marriage-feast-place along with that man. After they had entered, the door was closed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The foolish girls went out to buy oil. But the bridegroom arrived. Those girls who were prepared entered with him into the house. The door was then closed.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 25:10

The story now reaches its climax. The bridegroom arrives, and the girls who had their lamps ready accompany him into the wedding feast. Observe that the theme of readiness ties this parable to the saying of 24.44: “Therefore you also must be ready.”

The text has merely while they went to buy, but in many languages it will be necessary to mention their departure explicitly before using while. See for example Good News Translation, “So the foolish girls went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone….”

Came may be “arrived” or “arrived for the wedding.”

Those who were ready went into the wedding with the bridegroom. Those could seem to refer to all the guests, but in the context of the parable, those clearly refers to the five sensible young women who were ready with enough oil. Good News Translation has “The five girls who were ready,” and others have “the five sensible girls.”

To say went in … to the marriage feast may need to be expanded to “went into the house where the wedding feast was to be held.” Since the wedding was at the bridegroom’s house, far enough away to require lamps to see the way there, then “went to the house” may be better.

The door was shut may be translated “the servants closed the door.”

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 .