intercede for the saints according to the will of God

The Greek in Romans 8:27 that is translated into English as “(the Spirit) intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” is translated into Bilua as “(he) prays like God himself” (source: Carl Gross)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as tritt für alle Christen bei Gott als ihr Anwalt ein or “intercedes for all Christians before God as their advocate.”

ruddy

The Hebrew in 1 Samuel 16:12 that is translated with “ruddy” in English is translated in Mandinka as “light-skinned.” “‘Light-skinned’ could be considered a cultural equivalent. Although there are a few people with reddish skin in Mandinka, this is not an attractive trait. The UBS Handbook (A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel by R.L. Omanson and J. Ellington) suggests that ‘ruddy’ may have referred to the hair, but medical people know that reddish hair is a sign of malnutrition.” (Source: Rob Koops)

In Vidunda it is translated as “healthy/strong” and in Kwere as “powerful” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

right mind / sound-minded

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The Greek that is rendered as “in his right mind” or “sound-minded” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Amganad Ifugao: “his mind had returned”
  • Tojolabal: “his heart was sitting down”
  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “his head was healed”
  • Javanese: “with a clear mind again”
  • Indonesian: “come to his senses” (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Marathi: “come to his cleanness/purity”
  • Ekari: “his thoughts having become right”
  • Sranan Tongo: “his intelligence having-become clean again”
  • Batak Toba: “having-mind”
  • Tae’: “settled his mind”
  • Balinese: “settled/fixed” (source for this and five above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Mairasi: “had well-split vision” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Noongar: “straight inside his head” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “his thinking was proper” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “his mind returned back” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Kölsch (publ. 2017): “talk reasonable again”

become strong in spirit (Luke 1:80)

The Greek in Luke 1:80 that is often translated as “become (or: became) strong in spirit” in English is translated as “was-made-strong as to his soul” in Sundanese. In the English Gospel translation of E.V. Rieu (1952) it is translated as “gathered spiritual strength.”

In Mairasi, it is translated as “increasing in strength of throat (= spirit; will; mind)” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

all scripture is inspired by God

The Greek in 2 Timothy 3:16 that is translated as “all scripture is inspired by God (or: is God-breathed)” into English is translated into various languages in the following ways:

  • Berom: “All the words that were written in the Leaf of Teaching of Father Sun came away from God thing his” (Mwa neha de bà jɛk e Bwok-basa Dagwi na vey yi na Dagwi pyɛ mɛ)
  • Hausa (Common Language Version): “All the writings of the Word of God are blown from his place” (Duk Rubutacciyar Maganar Allah hurarre ce daga wurinsa)
  • Kera: “All the words that were written in God’s book come straight from God’s mouth” (Kel gə minti gə jeerə-jeere giidə kefter kə Pepeŋa keɗe ha’aŋ, yə bəŋ ku Pepeŋ da)
  • Arabic (True Meaning Arabic edition): “All of this book is a revelation from God” (فهذِهِ الكُتُبُ كُلُّها وَحيٌ مِن اللهِ)
  • Chadian Arabic: “The book is completely the word of God which he sent down (الْكِتَابْ كُلَّ كَيْ هُو كَلَامْ اللّٰهْ النَّزَّلَهْ)
  • Dari (Today’s Dari Version 2008): “The whole holy book is divine revelation” (تمام کتاب مقدس از الهام خداست)
  • French (Parole de Vie 2017): “All the holy books were written with the help of God” (Tous les Livres Saints ont été écrits avec l’aide de Dieu)
  • Lamogai: “All of the talk written in God’s book was given by God’s Spirit.”
  • Northern Emberá: “God (emph.) made all of his word to be written” (Ãcõrẽbʌrʌ jũma Idji Bed̶eara b̶ʌbisia)
  • Hiligaynon: “The whole Written-Item was written by-means-of the power of God” (Kay ang bug-os nga Kasulatan ginbugna sang Dios kag mapuslanon sa pagtudlo sang kamatuoran)
  • Sindhi: “The origin/fount of each writing of the holy word/scripture is God (emph. = alone)”
  • Dobel: “And God’s Message all of it, it was he alone who put it in people’s thoughts, then they wrote it in The Book” (Sa Dukwaida Ssinan Ler si Rakwin re nam ffui, nai naꞌꞌenni yaꞌa nam i tamatu ada faꞌirandi nama datiya i Suratu Yabil)
  • Amele: “All the written good talk God’s Spirit he himself taught/instructed men and they wrote” (Me je jaqec cunug Anutna Kis uqadodoc dana iwaladeceb jaqein)
  • Saxwe Gbe: “Every holy writing came from God”
  • Aja: “It was God’s Spirit that took all things that were written in the books of God’s Word and put them in the minds/consciences of people, and they wrote them” (source for this and all above: discussion on BT email list, contributions used with permissions)
  • Kaqchikel: “All scripture is God’s breath”

On this last translation, the translation into Kaqchikel, Cameron Townsend reports:

“We were struggling with the part of the Scripture that says, ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God.’ We tried several different ways of translating this, but the men were never satisfied that it communicated well in Kaqchikel. I consulted the Greek and said, ‘How about translating it ‘all scripture is God-breathed?” ‘No,’ they said, ‘that doesn’t sound right.’ Then I suggested using ‘God’s breath.’ The men liked this and we agreed to use this phrase. But I wasn’t entirely convinced it was as accurate as it should be. Then I began to read other portions of Scripture where I noticed that when God spoke in creation it had the same connotation as God’s breath. And so we left it that way: ‘All scripture is God’s breath.'” (Quoted in Steven 1995, p. 196f.)

Derived from this phrase, the word for “Bible” in Armenian is Asdvadz-a-shoonch (Աստվածաշունչ) or “Breath of God.”

See also examined the scriptures, scripture, and complete verse (2 Timothy 3:16).

deep sleep

The Hebrew phrase that is rendered as “deep sleep” in English versions is translated as “sleep like a trance” in Chenalhó Tzotzil (source: Robert Bascom) and as “die in sleep” in Bariai (source: Bariai Back Translation).

Haman hurried to his house mourning and with his head covered

The Hebrew and Greek that is rendered in English translations as “Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered” was translated into Afar as Haaman wacarriyih namma gaba amol luk isi buxah arduk yuduure.: “Haman, having both hands on his head in shame, returned to his home running.” (Shame is shown by placing both hands on top of one’s head.)

In Newari it is translated as “Haman, however, being ashamed, with bursting heart, hurried back to his own house” (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also shake the head.