The Hebrew in Proverbs 3:15 that is translated as “more precious than jewels” or similar in English is translated in Kupsabiny as “of value/benefit more than stones that buy much money.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Language-specific Insights
testify falsely
The Hebrew that is translated as “testify falsely” or similar in English is translated in Kupsabiny as “tie words on people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
her feet do not stay at home
The Hebrew in Proverbs 7:11 that is translated as “her feet do not stay at home” or similar in English is translated in Kupsabiny as “her leg is sharpened for prostitution that (it) cannot make her stay in her house.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
like vinegar to the teeth
The Hebrew in Proverbs 10:26 that is translated as “like vinegar to the teeth” or similar in English is translated in Kupsabiny as “like when bitter fruits are eaten.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
complete verse (1 Kings 1:4)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 1:4:
- Kupsabiny: “The young girl was very beautiful. She used to stay with the king and would take care of him. But the king did not sleep with (have sexual intercourse with) that young girl.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Newari: “She was very beautiful. She took care of the king and served him. The king, however, did not have intercourse with her.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “Abishag was very beautiful, and she became the one-who-takes-care of the king. But the king never touched/(had-sexual-relations-with) her.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “She was truly very beautiful. She took care of the king, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
grieving
The Greek that is translated as “grieving” or “sorrowful” in English is often translated metaphorically:
- “his stomach died” (Mezquital Otomi)
- “he was heavy in his stomach” (Uduk)
- “his heart was pained” (Kpelle)
- “he was sick in his mind” (Amganad Ifugao)
- “his heart hung” (Loma)
- “his heart was spoiled” (Mossi) (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida 1961)
- “his interior was crying” (Bariai) (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- “heart got shocked” (Kupsabiny) (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- “insides/heart-became-bad” (Mairasi ) (source: Enggavoter 2004)
See also sorrow and Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”
bread of the presence, consecrated bread, showbread
The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “showbread,” “bread of the presence,” or “consecrated bread” in English is translated as:
- “bread set before the face of God” (Luvale)
- “loaves which are laid before the face (of God)” (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
- “bread to-do-homage” (Tae’)
- “holy bread” (Pohnpeian, Chuukese)
- “placed bread” (Ekari)
- “church-bread” (Sranan Tongo) (source for this and three above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
- “loaves offered to God” (interconfessional Chichewa translation; source: Wendland 1998, p. 110)
- “bread that was sitting on the altar” (Low German) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006)
- “bread that only (the) priests were permitted to eat” (Kupsabiny) (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- “offering bread which was remaining in Deo’s sight” (Bariai) (source: Bariai Back Translation)
- “bread that was offered/sacrificed to God” (Uma) (source: Uma Back Translation)
- [“bread which is the thank-offering to God” (tip_language language=”6194″]Tagbanwa[/tip_language]) (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
See Mark 2:23-28 in Russian Sign Language for the Russian Sign Language translation of “showbread.”
slow of heart
The Greek in Luke 24:25 that is often translated as “slow of heart” in English is translated as