leaven

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “leaven” (or “yeast”) in English is translated in Tzotzil as “the thing that swells the stomach of bread” and in Mairasi “bread cooking ingredient” (source: Enggavoter 2004)

In the occurrences in Mark 8:15 it is translated in Wantoat as “salt.” (Source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.)

See also leaven (1Cor 5:6).

unleavened bread

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “unleavened bread” in English is translated in various ways:

  • Chichimeca-Jonaz: “bread that doesn’t have its medicine that makes it puff up”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “bread without its sour”
  • Tepeuxila Cuicatec: “bread that has no mother” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Mairasi: “bread without other ingredient” (source: Enggavoter 2004)

complete verse (Exodus 12:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 12:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “You should not eat anything where those things that rises have been added in any place where you are going to live/settle.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not eat anything with yeast in it. Wherever you may be, you must eat bread made without yeast.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Yes, you (plur.) are- never -to-eat anything that has that-which-causes-to-expand in/during the time of that feast, wherever you (plur.) live.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “In whichever area you are living in, don’t eat any food with yis. You must eat bret not having yis existing in it.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Therefore, that which has yeast all, you must not it eat. At place many which you dwell there, you shall eat FOC bread which lacks yeast.»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “In your houses, do not eat anything that has yeast in it during those seven days.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Exod 12:19 - 12:20

Verse 19 repeats much of what is said in verse 15. For seven days has already been specified. No leaven shall be found, literally “leaven will not be found,” may be expressed as “no yeast is to be found” (New International Version), “no leaven may be found” (New American Bible), or “no leaven must be found” (Revised English Bible). One may also translate “no yeast is allowed in anyone’s home,” or even “you must not allow any yeast in anyone’s home.” If any one eats what is leavened is almost identical with verse 15, the only difference being the form of the noun. (New Revised Standard Version tries to reflect this slight difference, with “what is leavened” for “leavened bread.”) Cut off from the congregation of Israel adds the word congregation to the phrase in verse 15. (See verse 3.)

Whether he is a sojourner refers to a “resident alien” (New American Bible, Translator’s Old Testament). “Stranger” or “foreigner” may give the wrong idea here, for the sojourner was often one who had taken up residence among people not his own (see 2.22 and the comment). Or a native of the land is the alternative to sojourner. In this case, since these verses reflect the later Israelite community, the land does not refer to Egypt. (As explained in the introductory remarks to this chapter, these detailed instructions for ritual observance were inserted into the basic narrative of the exodus long after the Israelites had settled in the Promised Land.) So native means “native-born,” “an Israelite by birth” (Translator’s Old Testament), or “native Israelites” (Contemporary English Version).

Verse 20 also repeats what is said in verse 19. The only new word here is dwellings, which means the same as “houses.” Good News Translation avoids the repetition by combining verses 19 and 20. This tendency to repeat what has already been said adds emphasis to the instructions, but it should be avoided if it sounds unnatural in the receptor language.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .