scripture

The Greek that is translated “scripture” or “scriptures” in English is translated as “God’s word which people wrote” in Guerrero Amuzgo (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125) and “paper writings” in Copainalá Zoque (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.).

While the term “Bible,” often used as a synonym, does not appear in the Bible itself, there’s an interesting translation of that word in Dehu. Missionaries had translated “Bible” as “Container of the Word” until they realized that this was also used for “penis sheath.” (Source: Clifford 1992, p. 87)

For other translations of scripture see all scripture is inspired by God and examined the scriptures.

complete verse (John 19:37)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 19:37:

  • Uma: “There is also the word of the Holy Book that says: ‘They will look-up at the one who was speared long ago.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And there is also one verse written in the holy-book it says, ‘They look/looked at the person whom they had pierced.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There is also a written prophecy which says, ‘They will gaze at the person whom they speared.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and another also that he caused-to-be-written that says, ‘In-the-future they will see him whom they stabbed.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And it says too there in another section of the writing, ‘They will look at him whom they pierced.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Another part written in the Holy Book says, ‘He will be seen that his body was pierced.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quote, see Zechariah 12:10.

Translation commentary on John 19:37

For languages in which one cannot speak of the scripture as “saying” anything, it may be possible to translate “there is another scripture in which one can read.”

The scripture passage referred to in this verse is Zechariah 12.10. John does not follow exactly either the Hebrew text or the most commonly accepted Septuagint reading. People will look at is literally “they will look at,” The term pierced must often be made more explicit, for example, “pierced with a spear” or “stuck into with a spear.”

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 .