Peter

Following is a Armenian Orthodox icon of Peter (found in the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha, Azerbaijan).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

Following is a hand colored stencil print on momigami of Peter by Sadao Watanabe (1970):

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “key” (referring to Matthew 16:19). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Peter” or “Cephas” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “rock,” referring to the meaning of the Greek word for “Peter.”


“Peter” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Peter – rock.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Peter .

complete verse (John 13:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 13:9:

  • Uma: “Simon Petrus said: ‘If thus, Lord, not just my feet! With my hands and my head too.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then Simon Petros said to him, ‘O Sir, if it is like that, do not just wash my feet but also my hands and my head.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Peter answered, ‘If that’s the case, not just my feet, but rather also wash my hands and my head.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “After that Pedro said, ‘Lord, if that is so, may it therefore be not only my feet that you (sing.) wash, include my arms/hands and head.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When Pedro heard that, he again spoke, saying, ‘If it’s like that then, Lord/Chief, I would like not only my feet to be washed by you. Also my hands/arms and my head, wash them too.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Then Peter said, ‘Lord. Don’t just wash my feet then, wash my hands and my head.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Simon (Peter𖺗 son of Jonah / John)

The name that is transliterated as “Simon (Peter)” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines a reference to “Peter” (see here for the Libras translation of “Peter”) and “son” (of Jonah / John). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Simon” in Libras (source )

See also Peter.

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Translation commentary on John 13:9

That only Peter’s feet are referred to by Jesus in verse 8 is made clear in this verse. In its restructuring Good News Translation supplies the verb wash; the Greek text reads literally “not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .