Language-specific Insights

lazy person

The Hebrew that is translated as “lazy person” or “sluggard” or similar in English is translated in Low German as Fuulpelz, an idiomatic term that literally means “someone who wants to rest on an animal hide” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006).

See also lazy.

pointing the fingers

The Hebrew in Proverbs 6:13 that is translated as “pointing the fingers” or similar in English is translated in Low German as maakt allerhand Fisematenten mit den Fingern or “mess around with the fingers” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006).

furious, fury

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “fury” or “furious” or similar in English is translated in Low German with the alliteration and idiom Gift un Gall speeten or “spit poison and bile” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006).

Fittingly, it is also used in Acts 14:2 to translate the Greek (ἐκάκωσαν τὰς ψυχὰς) that is translated as “poison the mind” in English.

See also very angry and in anger.

behold, suddenly

The Greek in Matthew 17:3 that is translated as “suddenly” or “behold” in English is translated in Low German as “And then? One could hardly fathom it” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).

parable

Click here to view graphically

The Greek that is usually translated as “parable” in English is translated in other languages in a number of ways:

In British Sign Language it is translated with a sign that combines the signs for “tell-a-story” and “compare.” (Source: Anna Smith)


“Parable” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as analogy because “the Greek word has the sense of tossing down something alongside something else. Hence an analogy.”

See also image and figures of speech.

complete verse (Proverbs 10:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 10:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “The blessing that God gives brings wealth/riches,
    and he does not add pain to your life.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The blessing of the Lord makes people rich,
    For them [the ones made rich]
    He adds no sorrow.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man becomes-rich because of the blessing of the LORD, and this can- not -add/increase by working- very -hard.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The blessing of God, that is the cause-of a person -becoming-wealthy, and there-is-no sorrow that he adds.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Low German: “God’s blessing alone fills your hands. You can try as hard as you might and will still not add anything towards that.” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006)
  • English: “Yahweh blesses some people by enabling them to become rich,
    and working hard will not make them to become richer (OR, and he will not also cause them to become sad).” (Source: Translation for Translators)