The Greek and Hebrew that is typically translated as “(to the) right hand of” is often translated much more descriptively in other languages:
- Yakan: “at the right side, here in the greatest/most important/most honored place/seat”
- Mezquital Otomi: “the right hand, at the place of honor”
- Chuj: “exalted at the right hand”
- Chichimeca-Jonaz: “in a high place there at the right”
- Lalana Chinantec: “make great”
- Isthmus Mixe: “given great authority”
- Morelos Nahuatl: “placed big” or “heart-strengthens me”
- Isthmus Mixe: “stays with me” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August, 1966, p. 86ff)
- Teutila Cuicatec: “in all authority at the right side” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.).
In Lamnso’, the seat on the right-hand side signifies that the person seated there would have a higher position than the one to his left (vs. just being a seat of honor). To circumvent any misunderstanding of the biblical text, the translation here refers to the “highest seat next to God.” (Source: Karl Grebe in Holzhausen 1991, p. 52)
(Note that in Elhomwe the idiom “I see you through the left hand” stands for “useless.” [Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext])
For Old Testament examples of blessing and power associated with God’s right hand, see Gen 48:14, 48:17, Exodus 15:6, 15:12, Psalm 48:10, 80:15, 80:17, 89:13.
