John the Baptist

The name that is transliterated as “John (the Baptist)” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language and Mexican Sign Language as “baptize” (source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. ).


“John the Baptist” in Mexican Sign Language (source: BSLM )

In German Sign Language (Catholic) it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying a Catholic baptism by sprinkling on the head.


“John” in German Sign Language /catholic, source: Taub und katholisch

In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying “shout,” referring to John 1:23. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“John” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Similarly, in French Sign Language, it is “prepare the way.” (Source: Lexique – Explications en langue des signes)

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign for leaping in the womb (see Luke 1:41) and baptism. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“John” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

A question of cultural assumptions arose in Tuvan. The instinctive way to translate this name denotatively would be “John the Dipper,” but this would carry the highly misleading connotation that he drowned people. It was therefore decided that his label should focus on the other major aspect of his work, that is, proclaiming that the Messiah would soon succeed him. (Compare his title in Russian Orthodox translation “Иоанн Предтеча” — “John the Forerunner.”) So he became “John the Announcer,” which fortunately did not seem to give rise to any confusion with radio newsreaders! (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )

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

In Noongar it is translated as John-Kakaloorniny or “John Washing” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

A new oral translation into Yao / Ciyawo, spoken in Mozambique, uses John the one who ceremoniously washes/pours water, using a term (kusingula) that “indicates a ceremonial washing or pouring of water on a person in the Yawo’s expression of Islam which can be used for an act done in repentance of sin.” (Source: Houston 2025, p. 236)

See also John the Baptist (icon) and learn more on Bible Odyssey: John the Baptist .

John the Baptist (icon)

Following is a Syriac Orthodox icon of John the Baptist from the 18/19th century (found in the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen, Yabrud, Syria).

 
The wings are often depicted in icons of John the Baptist because of his status as a messenger. The scroll that John the Baptist holds quotes John 1:29 and reads (translated into English): “I saw and witnessed concerning him, ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.’”

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 )

See also John the Baptist.

complete verse (Luke 1:63)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 1:63:

  • Noongar: “Zechariah requested paper and he wrote, ‘His name is ‘John’.’ ‘Wow!’ they cried out. ” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Zakharia asked for something to write on [lit., a writing-place] and he wrote: ‘His name is Yohanes.’ They were all surprised.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Jakariya also made signs asking for something to write on and he wrote this: ‘His name is Yahiya.’ They all were very amazed.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Zechariah motioned that they give him something on which to write that which he wanted the name to be. And what he wrote there was, ‘John is the name of the child.’ And then they were very much surprised.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Zekarias had-someone-get something-to-write-on and what he wrote was, ‘His name, Juan.’ And all that were there were greatly amazed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Zacarias asked for something to write on and wrote saying, ‘Juan is his name.’ The crowd was amazed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 1:63

Exegesis:

aitēsas pinakidion ‘having asked for a writing tablet,’ by signs of course.

aiteō ‘to ask,’ ‘to ask for.’

pinakidion ‘writing-tablet,’ consisting of a small board (yew tree, according to Jewish sources) covered with wax.

egrapsen legōn lit. ‘he wrote saying…,’ but legōn is a literal translation of Hebrew leʾmor which can introduce indirect speech even when the words are not spoken but written, cf. 2 Kings 10.6.

Translation:

Asked for. In some languages the corresponding verb can only be used when speech is implied; hence e.g. ‘he caused to be brought’ (Kannada).

Writing tablet, or somewhat more generically, ‘board/thing-to-write-on’ (Sundanese, Batak Toba), ‘that on which he could write’ (Tboli); or, ‘slate’ (Balinese, Marathi; also Tae,’ Kituba, lit. ‘stone on which-to-write’).

He wrote, usually to be followed by a marker of quotation, e.g. ‘thus’ (Tae’). In some cases a marker which primarily refers to quoted speech can also be used with extended meaning in reference to writing, e.g. ‘its-sound’ (Malay), ‘saying’ (Sranan Tongo, Navajo, Apache).

And they all marvelled, or, specifying the connexion with what precedes, ‘therefore they all were perplexed’ (Batak Toba), ‘they all were astonished at it’ (Bible de Jérusalem), ‘that surprised them’ (cf. Phillips). For to marvel see on “wondered” in v. 21.

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 1:63

Paragraph 1:63–66

1:63a

In this verse Zechariah wrote on a writing tablet. The text does not state explicitly that someone brought him the tablet, but it is implied. In some languages it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

⌊Someone brought him the tablet,⌋ and ⌊then⌋

Zechariah asked for a tablet: The verb asked for here means “indicated that he wanted.” Zechariah showed his visitors that he wanted something to write on. He could not yet talk, so he motioned, probably with his hands, to show that he wanted to write something.

tablet: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tablet refers to a small wooden board that someone had covered with wax. People could write by making marks in the wax with a pointed object that was shaped like a pen.

1:63b

And they were all amazed: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they were all amazed means “all the people ⌊who saw what Zechariah wrote⌋ were amazed.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as amazed also occurs in 1:21. See the note in 1:21b on “wondering why he took so long in the temple.”

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