betray

The Greek that is translated as “betray” in English does not have an immediately corresponding term in Tado. The term that was chosen there was “sell.” (Source: Budy Karmoy in this blog post )

complete verse (Matthew 26:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 26:16:

  • Uma: “From then on, Yudas hunted for a good opportunity to sell Yesus to his enemies.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “After that Judas looked for a good time for handing Isa over to them.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And from that time Judas looked for a way so that he might deceive Jesus so that those people could seize him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And beginning with that, he was-looking-for his opportunity to betray Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, from then on, Judas kept on looking for his opportunity so that he could hand Jesus over to those wanting to arrest (him).” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore Judas searched for how he could turn Jesus over to the priests.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 26:16

On the basis of this verse some scholars conclude that “the prospect of payment is the actual motive behind Judas’ treachery.”

From that moment represents the same construction used in 16.21, where it is translated “From that time” by Revised Standard Version. It is also used in 4.17.

Opportunity (so also New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible) is translated “good chance” by Good News Translation, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “favorable opportunity.” Elsewhere in the New Testament the word is used only in Luke 22.6. One good rendering of the sentence is “From then on Judas began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.”

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 .