anoint

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated in English as “anoint” is translated in Lakota with azilyA: “to smudge.”

Steve Berneking (in Beerle-Moor / Voinov, p. 121) tells the story of that translation:

“During one visit with the Lakota team, we were reading texts and discussing key biblical terms and how they are best rendered into Lakota. Reference was made to the ritual we label ‘anointing.’ When the Lakota word that had been glossed as ‘anoint’ was read aloud, I heard giggling among the reviewers. Knowing that this reaction called for some explanation, I asked.

“The people there told me that the Lakota verb that was used to translate ‘anoint’ was funny in that context. It is not that the verb is an uncommon one; quite the contrary. Lakota uses that verb frequently, but almost exclusively as a verb of food preparation; the verb belongs to the culinary domain. In other words, the Lakota verb used for ‘anoint’ actually referred to rubbing oil on something that was to be cooked or grilled, in this case, the apostles. The Lakota verb ipáṫaŋṫtaŋ ‘to apply oil on something’ was used quite innocently by the missionaries. The linguistic transfer was understandable: the missionaries needed a verb to translate ‘putting oil on something’; Lakota has a verb; they used that verb. The result was comical. So, during that conversation with the Lakota community, I encouraged the translators to come up with a Lakota verb that is used not simply in ‘the application of oil,’ but more pointedly in the consecration of something or somebody for a special task, or in the appointment of someone for a special purpose. Their response was almost immediate: azilyA or wazílyA ‘to smudge.’ That is how, they told me, warriors and messengers and tribal leaders have always been consecrated (or blessed) before being sent out on a special mission. Sage grass was burned, and the smoke was waved over the person or object. The trans-cultural process of using the traditional Lakota verb azilyA for the biblical notion of ‘anoint’ became, at that moment, part of the Lakota Bible.”

In Bashkir, it is translated as masekhlay (мәсехләү), when used in a ritual context. Masekhlay has the same root than masikh (мәсих), which is used both for “anointed one” in the Old Testament and in its capitalized form (Мәсих) for Μεσσίας (engl. “Messiah”) and Χριστός (engl. “Christ”) in the New Testament. For more information about this, see anointed one.

In Vidunda it is translated as “smear oil.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip showing how anointing was done in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also anoint (chrió) and anointing of David (image).

fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Mark 14:3 - 11 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 14:3-11 into Mexican Sign Language with back-translations into Spanish and English underneath:


© La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)

En Betania, en la casa de un hombre que se llamaba Simón, que había estado enfermo de lepra pero ahora estaba sano, en este mismo casa Jesús y los discípulos y otras personas estaban sentados alrededor de la mesa.

Vino una mujer cargando un frasco de piedra, de marmol, con un perfume muy caro y fino, rompió el cuello del frasco y vertió el frasco y derramó el perfume sobre la cabeza de Jesús

Algunas personas estaban furiosas y dijeron: “Tú derramaste el perfume, qué perdida, ¿para qué? Mejor lo habrías vendido, te habrían pagado 300 monedas de plata que tú habrías (podido) repartir a los pobres.” La regañaban.

Jesús los detuvo: “¿Porqué la regañan? dejala, esta mujer me ha tratado bien, siempre habrá personas pobres de ahora en adelante y uds pueden ayudarlos libremente.

Pero yo no vivo aquí para siempre, dentro de poco yo moriré y mi cuerpo estará acostado, esta mujer ya antes lo ha preparado y ha derramado el perfume para alistar mi cuerpo.

Esta mujer ha hecho bien, yo les digo la verdad en el futuro las personas se dispersarán a evangelizar y advertir las buenas noticias a todas las personas del mundo, y recordarán que esta mujer me ha tratado y ha derramado perfume sobre mi cabeza.”

Después, uno de las personas, Judas, se fue a platicar con los líderes de los sacerdotes. Judas dijo: “Yo he decidido a traicionar a Jesús, para que uds lo puedan arrestar.”

Los sacerdotes (dijeron): “¡Qué bien!, nosotros te pagaremos, lo prometimos.” Judas (dijo): “¿De acuerdo?, perfecto”, y se fue.

Judas esperaba el día oportuno para avisarles que podían arrestar a Jesús.


In Bethany, in the house owned by a man named Simon, who had been ill with leprosy but was now healed, in that same house Jesus and the disciples and other people were present seated around the table.

A woman came up carrying a jar of stone, of marble, with a very expensive and fine perfume, she broke the neck off the jar and poured out the perfume on Jesus’ head.

Some people were furious and said: “You poured out the perfume, what a loss, what for? It would have been better to sell the perfume, they would have paid you 300 silver coins and you (could) have handed them out to the poor.” They told her off.

Jesus told them to stop: “Why are you telling her off? Leave her, this woman has treated me well, there will always continue to be poor people and you are free to help them.

“But I do not live here forever, in a little while I will die and my body will be laid out, this woman has already prepared it and has poured out the perfume to make my body ready.

“This woman has done something good, I tell you the truth, in the future people will disperse to tell the gospel and make the good news known to all the people of the world, and they will remember that this woman has cared for me and poured perfume over my head.”

Afterwards, one of the people, Judas, went to talk to the leaders of the priests. Judas said: “I have decided to betray Jesus so you can arrest him.”

The priests (went): “How wonderful, we will pay you, we promise.” Judas (went): “It’s agreed then? Good!” and he left.

Judas waited for the right day to tell them that they could arrest Jesus.

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

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Mark 14:12-21 in Mexican Sign Language >>

Mark 14:1-11 in Russian Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 14:1-11 into Russian Sign Language with a back-translation underneath:


Source: Russian Bible Society / Российское Библейское Общество

There are two Jewish holidays: Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They were two days away. The chief priests and teachers of the law gathered and plotted how they could seize Jesus secretly and kill him. They were afraid that if they seized Jesus right now, during these days, the people would hear about it and there might be a riot.

Here is the village of Bethany. There is a house there belonging to a man named Simon. In the past, this man had leprosy and was covered with sores. In this house, Jesus and other people were sitting around a table and were feasting.

A woman had a jug in her hands, and in it was a very expensive fragrant oil made from the nard plant. The woman opened the jug and began to pour the oil on Jesus’ head. The oil began to flow down his face and drip onto his clothes. Everyone around looked at this with displeasure and became angry. They said to each other:

— Why is this woman pouring out such expensive oil? It costs a lot, it could be sold and make a lot of money to give it to the poor, help them.

Everyone was angry and reproached her. Jesus said:

— Leave this woman alone. Stop judging her and scolding her. Don’t. This woman did a good deed for me. You will always have many beggars, but I will not always be. This woman anointed my head with oil, when I will die, I will be wrapped in burial shrouds and anointed with oil. That’s what she did. I tell you for sure: throughout the whole earth they will proclaim about me, and they will always tell about this woman, what she did for me. The story of this woman will never disappear.

One of the 12 disciples named Judas Iscariot stood up and went to the chief priests and made a deal with them to hand over Jesus to them. The chief priests were delighted and promised to give him money for this. He began to wait for a convenient time to hand over Jesus.

Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):

Есть два еврейских праздника: Пасха и Праздник пресных хлебов. До них оставалось два дня. Первосвященники и учителя закона собрались и замышляли, как бы им тайно схватить Иисуса и убить. Они боялись, что если они схватят Иисуса прямо сейчас, в эти дни, народ прослышит об этом, и может случиться волнение.

Вот селение Вифания. Там есть дом, принадлежащий человеку по имени Симон. В прошлом этот человек болел проказой и весь был покрыт язвами. В этом доме Иисус и другие люди сидели вокруг стола и пировали.

У одной женщины в руках был кувшин, а в нем находилось очень дорогое благоуханное масло, сделанное из растения «нард». Женщина открыла кувшин, и стала выливать масло на голову Иисуса. Масло стало стекать по лицу и капать на одежду. Все вокруг смотрели на это с неудовольствием и сердились. Они говорили друг другу:

— Зачем эта женщина выливает такое дорогое масло? Оно стоит очень много, его можно было бы продать, получить много денег и раздать их бедным, помочь им.

Все злились и упрекали ее. Иисус сказал:

— Оставьте эту женщину в покое. Хватит вам ее осуждать и ругать ее. Не надо. Эта женщина сделала доброе дело ради меня. У вас всегда будет много нищих, а я буду не всегда. Эта женщина помазала мою голову маслом, потом я умру, меня завернут в погребальные пелены и помажут маслом. Вот она это и сделала. Я говорю вам точно: по всей земле будут возвещать обо мне, и всегда будут также рассказывать и об этой женщине, что она сделала для меня. Никогда история об этой женщине не исчезнет.

Один из 12 учеников по имени Иуда Искариот встал и пошел к первосвященникам и сговорился с ними, что выдаст им Иисуса. Первосвященники обрадовались и обещали дать ему денег за это. Он стал выжидать удобное время, чтобы выдать Иисуса.

Back-translation by Luka Manevich

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Mark 14:12-26 in Russian Sign Language >>

complete verse (Mark 14:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 14:8:

  • Uma: “This woman has done what she was able to do. She anointed [poured-on] with fragrant oil to prepare my body ahead of time for being buried, before the time comes.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This woman, she has done what she could (tage’es). She has oiled my body beforehand to prepare me for my burial.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “According to what this woman was able to do, she has done for me. She has perfumed so that my body might be prepared for burial.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “She has done what-she-could. She ahead-of-time poured this perfume on me in order to prepare my body for my burial.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for her, she did what she was able to. For she has already poured perfume on my body like she is already fixing it before my burial.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

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

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on Mark 14:8

Exegesis:

ho eschen epoiēsen ‘what she had she did’: it is generally agreed that the meaning of the verb echō ‘have’ being equivalent to dunamai ‘be able.’ Arndt & Gingrich echō a call attention to the fact that the full phrase would include the infinitive, ho eschen poiēsai epoiēsen ‘what she was able to do she did.’ Cf. Lagrange, Ce qui était en son pouvoir; O Novo Testamento de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. Revisdo Autorizada, Ela fêz o que pôde.

proelaben (only here in Mark) ‘she did beforehand,’ ‘she anticipated’: the verb prolambanō means to do something before the usual time (so Moulton & Milligan, quoting examples from the papyri).

murisai (only here in the N.T.) ‘to anoint.’

entaphiasmon (only here in Mark) ‘preparation for burial’: this is the meaning assigned the word by Field and Moulton & Milligan; Arndt & Gingrich, however, state the word can also signify the burial itself. In the context the meaning ‘preparation for burial’ is to be preferred.

Translation:

Where there is no contrast in genders between pronouns, it may be necessary to render she by ‘this woman’ (South Bolivian Quechua).

The concept of beforehand is not always easy to translate, since the time sequence is never absolute, but merely relative to more normal activities. This meaning has been quite neatly expressed in Highland Puebla Nahuatl, e.g. ‘she has already come to anoint my body to prepare to bury it.’ By the use of ‘already’ and ‘to prepare to bury,’ the idea of beforehand is quite adequately conveyed. The meaning is more directly expressed in Tabasco Chontal, e.g. ‘she made me smell good ahead of time for my burial.’ In Tzeltal this concept must be stated even more explicitly, e.g. ‘I have not yet been buried, but she came to anoint my body for death.’

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .