The Hebrew that is translated as “ornamented robe ” or similar in English is translated in Kim as mwaɗak or “multi-colored (robe),” following the traditional translation (Greek Septuagint: χιτῶνα ποικίλον; LatinVulgate: tunicam polymitam; EnglishKing James/Authorised Version: coat of many colours; German Luther translation: bunter Rock etc.)
The Hebrew that is translated as “divine council” or similar in English is translated in Kim as ɓase ge ne digi zi or “people from heaven.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “covenant” or similar in English, is translated in Kim as maktub wak-tuli or “sweet-mouth book” when it refers to the book of the covenant. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
The Hebrew that is translated as “crescents” in English is translated in Kim with kaŋ ge pare or “things that decorate” to avoid the suggestion of an Islamic symbol. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is translated as “threshing floor” in English is translated in Kim with twal or “termite mound” which are used to build threshing floors. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
The Hebrew Genesis 2:24 that is translated as “a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife” or similar in English is translated in Kim in a similar manner but equipped with a footnote. Andy Warren-Rothlin explains: “This is not a prediction of something that will happen in the future (not even the future from the point of view of the writer), but rather a description of the habits at the time and in the culture of the writer. The problem is that this is not the habit of the Kims. It takes a footnote to explain that in the writer’s day, it was the custom of Jews to leave their father’s house to get married, and that they based their culture on this story of creation.”
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 2:10:
Uma: “I, the Child of Mankind, I do have authority in the world to forgive sins. But if I say to this lame person: ‘Your (sing.) sins are forgiven,’ you do not know whether they are really forgiven or not. But if I say: ‘Get up, roll up your (sing.) mat, and walk,’ you will see whether it happens or not. So I will show you that I have authority to forgive sin.’ From there, he turned to that lame person,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “I heal this man in order that you will know that I, the Son of Mankind, have authority here in this world to forgive sins.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “By healing this man now, I will show you that I, the Older Sibling of Mankind, I have authority here on the earth to forgive sin.’ Then he said to the man who was paralyzed, he said,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But if that is so, I will then say what is difficult in order to thereby confirm to you that I who am Child of a Person have authority on this earth (lit. surface of this earth) to forgive sins.’ Then he said to that cripple,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore I will heal this illness of his so that you will realize that as for me, who am the One From Heaven Born of Man/human, I do indeed have authority here under the heavens to forgive sins.’ And then he said to that person who was paralyzed,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Kim text for oral translation: “It’s good, so that you know that the Son of Man has the power on the earth to forgive sins, I say to the paralysed person:” (Source: Bayamy Tchande Awakde in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 23ff.)
