world (Chinese)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)

See also world.

complete verse (Matthew 24:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 24:21:

  • Uma: “For no kidding the tortures that will hit mankind at that time, it has not happened since the world was first created until this time, and it will not happen again in the future.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For in those days,’ said Isa, ‘there will be great difficulties, there have none be like it since the beginning of the world until now. And after this, they will not come back.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because very bitter will be the torments at that time. Nothing like that has yet happened since the creation of the world. And when it happens, nothing like it will ever happen again forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because that time of over-much hardship, there has been no equal to it beginning from the creation of the world until now, and nothing also will be able-to-equal it in future days.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because really great hardship/suffering will be experienced by people. Yes indeed, the time will come when people will experience far-from-ordinary suffering which hasn’t yet been experienced since the creation of the world until now, and won’t ever again be experienced.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because it will be painful what the people must pass through on that day. There has been nothing like it since the world was made. And there will not be seen in the future the likes of it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 24:21

Tribulation (see Matthew 24.9) belongs to the vocabulary of apocalyptic literature; the noun is first used in 13.21. “Trouble” (Good News Translation) and “suffering” are the most common ways to translate it. In some languages, however, it is not possible to use these terms in the abstract, and translators have to say “people will suffer more than at any other time since the beginning of the world.”

No, and never will be may be translated “and nothing as terrible as this will ever happen again.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .