trance

The Greek that is translated as “trance” in English is translated in Yamba and Bulu as “(my/his) heart was swinging back and forth.” (Source: W. Reyburn in The Bible Translator 1959, p. 1ff. )

In Lalana Chinantec it is translated as “about the same thing as dreaming.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

hungry

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated in English as “hungry” (or: “famished”) is translated in a number of ways:

  • Noongar: “without stomach” (koborl-wirt) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Kölsch translation (publ. 2017): nix zo Käue han or “have nothing to chew on” and singe Mage hät geknottert wie ne Hungk or “his stomach growled like a dog” (source: Jost Zetzsche)
  • German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999): Hunger überfiel ihn or “Hunger overtook (lit.: “attacked”) him” (in Matthew 4:2)
  • Kupsabiny: “hunger ate him” (source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “feeling tuber pains” (tubers are the main staple) (source Enggavoter 2004)

complete verse (Acts 10:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 10:10:

  • Uma: “When it was nearly midday, he became hungry wanting to eat. So, while he was waiting for the food to get cooked, suddenly he had a vision.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “It wasn’t long (and) he was hungry and he wanted to eat. But while the food was being prepared, something appeared to him from God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And after a while he became very hungry and wanted to eat. And before their meal was cooked, there was that which God caused Peter to see.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “He became-hungry and would have eaten, but while they were preparing the meal, God showed him something that was like a dream.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Before long, Pedro was hungry. He wished there were something to eat, but his companions were still cooking downstairs. Well, in his perception, the world disappeared. It was like he was dreaming.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 10:10

It is impossible to conclude exactly what meal was being prepared: the Romans ate a meal around noon, but the main meal of the Jewish people was eaten in the late afternoon. In any case, the fact that Peter became hungry was what prepared him for the vision. Whereas the Jews would say “a trance came upon someone,” the nearest English equivalent would be to say “he fell into a trance” (see New English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Phillips). The Good News Translation renders “a trance fell on him” by he had a vision. This is done inasmuch as in the context the emphasis is not so much on the state of Peter (as in a trance or in ecstasy) as it is upon what he saw (that is, a vision).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Acts 11:9 – 10:10

On these verses see 10.15-16. It should be noticed that in verse 9 from heaven is added to the details of the account as given 10.15.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .