complete verse (Matthew 27:47)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 27:47:

  • Uma: “Several people who were standing near his cross heard his cry, they said: ‘Listen, he’s calling the prophet Elia!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When the people who stood there heard this, some of them said, ‘He is calling Nabi Eliyas.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the other people there, when they heard this they said, ‘Maybe he is calling Elijah, the inspired one of God long ago.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When the others standing there heard that, they said, ‘He is calling Elias!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When those who were still standing there heard, some said, ‘He is asking for help from Elias who was that prophet in the past.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Some people standing there heard what Jesus said. The people said among themselves: ‘This man is calling to Elijah.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Elijah

The name that is transliterated as “Elijah” in English means “God-LORD,” “strength of the LORD,” “my God is YHWH.” “the LORD God.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “whirlwind” (according to 2 Kings 2:11) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


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

Click or tap here to see how other sign languages are translating “Elijah”

In American Sign Language it is translated with a depiction of being taken up to heaven with a chariot of fire. (Source: ASL Sign Language Directory )


“Elijah” in American Sign Language (source )

Likewise in Estonian Sign Language, but with a different sign (source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff.)


“Elijah” in Estonian Sign Language (source )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “fire” (referring to 1 Kings 18:38). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Elijah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

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

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of Elijah from the late 13h century.

 
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Elijah .

Translation commentary on Matthew 27:47

Bystanders can be “onlookers” or “people who were near.”

According to the Old Testament (2 Kgs 2.9-12), Elijah was taken up alive into heaven, and it was common belief among the Jews that he might come to help them in time of need. In Hebrew his name sounds very similar to the cry “Eli” (verse 46), though it is not similar in sound to “Eloi” (Mark 15.34).

Some translators render calling Elijah as “calling on Elijah for help.” In addition, it often helps readers who do not know who Elijah was, to say “the prophet Elijah.”

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 .