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.

Herod (Antipas)

The Greek that is transliterated as “Herod (Antipas)” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for king and and a sign depicting cutting off the head (of John the Baptist), referring to Matthew 14:10 et al. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Herod” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Herod Antipas .

behead

The Greek and Hebrew that is typically translated as “behead” in English is translated in Newari as “cut on the neck” (source: Newari Back Translation).

complete verse (Luke 9:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 9:9:

  • Noongar: “Herod said, ‘I cut off John’s head. But who is this man I hear these things about?’ So he wanted to see Jesus.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “Herodes said: ‘As for Yohanes the Baptizer, I ordered yesterday [recent past time] a man to chop his neck. But that Yesus there, who is he really? I have heard much that spoke-about him.’ That is why Herodes wanted to meet Yesus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Herod said, ‘Yahiya I commanded to be beheaded. Who then is the person I hear all this talked about?’ And Herod kept looking as to how he could see Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Herod was thinking, ‘As for John, I cut off his head. But who is this person that they’re talking about?’ And Herod tried to find a way so that he could see Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But as for Herod, he said, ‘I emphatically had-Juan’s head -cut-off. Who perhaps is that person they are talking about?’ And beginning-from there, he kept-thinking-about how he could see Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But Herodes said, ‘I caused Juan to be beheaded. Well who really is this of whom I am hearing news, since I am getting news of many things concerning him?’ Well, he very much wanted to see Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 9:9

Exegesis:

eipen de Hērōdēs ‘and (considering these statements) Herod said,’ scil. to himself.

Iōannēn egō apekephalisa ‘John I have beheaded.’ egō is emphatic (cf. New English Bible), the thought connexion being: it is impossible that he is John, I have seen to that (cf. Klostermann).

apokephalizō ‘to behead,’ ‘to execute by beheading.’

tis de estin houtos peri hou akouō toiauta? ‘who is this about whom I hear such things?’ toiauta refers to ta ginomena.

kai ezētei idein auton ‘and he tried to see him,’ i.e. he tried to find a way to meet him, cf. on 5.18.

Translation:

John I beheaded, or, “John? I beheaded him” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation). Herod is the initiator, not the direct agent. The verb is in some languages rendered by a verbal derivation of ‘head’ (Greek, English, French, Tae’), in some others by ‘to cut (off) his head’ (Batak Toba), ‘to cut (through) his neck’ (Sundanese).

But who is this about whom I hear such things? This sentence may better be divided in two, ‘But who is this?’ (for which cf. on 5.21), and, ‘I hear strange (or, extraordinary) things about him,’ ‘I hear reports about him which I cannot believe.’

He sought to see him, or, ‘to met him.’ For the first verb cf. on 5.18.

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 9:9

9:9a

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction. The New International Version and Contemporary English Version translate this word as “But” in order to indicate that Herod’s thoughts contrasted with what the other groups of people said. In some languages, it may be appropriate to emphasize that the subject has changed back to Herod. For example:

But as for Herod, he said

I beheaded John: The clause I beheaded John implies here that Herod had ordered one of his soldiers to cut off John’s head. Herod himself did not cut off John’s head. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I had John’s head cut off (Good News Translation)
-or-
As for John, I myself ordered him to be beheaded

said: Herod probably said these words to himself.

9:9b

but who is this man I hear such things about?: Herod was referring to Jesus when he asked this question. This is a rhetorical question. It expresses uncertainty. Herod probably knew that a man named Jesus had done these miraculous things. However, he was uncertain about what sort of person Jesus really was.

Some ways to translate this expression of uncertainty are:

• As one or more rhetorical questions. For example:

What sort of person is this that I hear such things about?
-or-
How can this person do the ⌊amazing⌋ things that I hear about him? Who is he?

• As one or more statements. For example:

I wonder who this man that I am hearing about really is.

• As both a statement and a question. For example:

So who could this man be? I hear that he is doing some amazing things.
-or-
I am hearing such ⌊strange/wonderful⌋ things about this man. Who could he be?

Use the form that is most natural in your language.

I hear such things about: This clause indicates that Herod heard people say these things about Jesus. In some languages it may be more natural to make this explicit again here. For example:

whom people say such things about

such things: The phrase such things refers to all that Jesus was doing at that time, including healing people and casting out demons. He was doing things that no one else could do. In some languages it may be natural to supply a word that describes the sort of things that Jesus was doing:

such ⌊amazing/powerful/awesome⌋ things

9:9c

he kept trying to see Jesus: The clause he kept trying to see Jesus is literally “was-seeking to see him.” The form of the Greek verb indicates that Herod kept trying to see Jesus. Herod probably wanted to meet Jesus so that he could see him and talk to him personally or see Jesus do a miracle. Your language may have a way to indicate that this was a continual action.

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