The Ghari translation uses different terms for “fishing”: with nets when fishing for fish and with a line when fishing for men. (Source: David Clark)
The translation for “fishing” (when referring to catching fish) in Ojitlán Chinantec is “catching water animals” and in Aguaruna “killing fish.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
Click or tap here to see a short video clip showing the different kinds of fishing with a net in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)
See also cast a net.
The Greek that is translated as “(I will make you) fishers of men (or: people)” in English is rendered in Martu Wangka as “before you used to work getting fish for people, now i think you should do another work getting people and teaching them to be my relatives” (source: Carl Gross).
In Galela it is translated as “. . . you teach people to follow me, which is similar to you netting fish to gather them in” (source: Howard Shelden in Kroneman 2004, p. 501).
The Greek that is translated as “Follow me” in English is translated as “Be my disciple” in Ojitlán Chinantec and “Don’t forsake me” in Tenango Otomi (the latter is used in John 21). (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
In Kaingang it is translated as “run with me and do as I do.” (Source Ursula Wiesemann in Holzhausen / Riderer 2010, p. 65).
See also come after me / follow me.
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 4:19:
- Uma: “Yesus said to them: ‘Come follow me! You will no longer fish, searching for fish. From now on I give you the work of teaching people to believe in me.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “So-then Isa said to them, ‘Come and follow me. Your work is to get/catch fiish. But if/when you follow me, I will teach you to get people to follow me.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Jesus said to them, ‘So you are catchers of fish? Come with me and people (by contrast) you will be able to get so that they will follow (-as-disciples) me.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “He said to them, ‘Until now, you have been net-fishing fish. Become my disciples so I will teach you to persuade people.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me, for I will make you to be like it’s now men you’re fishing for.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Upon seeing them, Jesus said: ‘Listen men, let’s go together. Now it will not be fish that you meet up with, rather I will teach you to meet up with people,’ he said.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.
As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff.), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.
Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.
In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.