Language-specific Insights

complete verse (1 John 4:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 4:21:

  • Uma: “So, this is Kristus’s command to us: whoever loves God must love their relatives also.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This is the command that Almasi gave to us (incl.) that whoever loves God should also love his fellow-man.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For God has commanded us (incl.) that as for anyone whose love for God is true, he must also love his companion.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “What God has commanded us is this: the one who loves God, he must also love his fellow.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because this is what he commanded us, that whoever holds God dear, it’s essential that he also values his sibling in believing.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “God commands us this that the person who says that he loves God must also love his brother.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “This command God gives us: If we love God, likewise we must love our fellows.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “And here is the law which God left us. He who loves (esteems) God, but then he must also esteem his sibling, love him.”
  • Tzotzil: “Thus is his command that he told us: If you love God, you must love your brother also, he told us.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:1:

  • Uma: “All people who believe that Yesus is the Redeemer King, they are made/considered-children by God. And all people who love God the Father, they certainly love all God’s children as well.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Whoever believes that Isa is the Almasi who is chosen by God to rule, he is a child of God already. For example, if one loves a person one also loves his children.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Anyone who believes that Jesus is the one chosen by God to rule is a son of God. And if he holds dear in his breath our Father God, he will also hold dear his companions who are children of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the one God sent who is called Cristo, he is God’s child. And the one who loves the father, he also loves his children.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Whoever believes that as for Jesus, he is the one meant by Cristo who is the Savior King who was promised, it’s like he has now been given birth to by God. And it’s true, if we hold dear this one who as-it-were gave birth, of course we value all the others who have been as-it-were given birth to by him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “All who believe that Jesus is the Christ are the people who are God’s children. a person who loves a fellowman must also love the children of the man whom he loves.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Any of us are children of God if we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the one who is God. And all of us if we love our father God, likewise we love our fellows because likewise they are God’s children.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Whoever believes that Jesus and the Christ, God’s Chosen-One, are the same, only he is born anew by God, and is his child. Whoever loves (esteems) God, also his siblings he will love, in that the same one, God, is their Father.”
  • Tzotzil: “If we believe that Jesus Christ has been chosen by God to be our Savior, thus we have been born again in the presence of God for sure. Here in the world if we love our father thus we love also all our siblings.”
  • Garifuna: “. . . Everyone who loves (our) Father, also loves (our) Father’s children.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:2:

  • Uma: “This is a sign so that we know that we love the people who are God’s children, if we love God and follow his command(s).” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore if we (incl.) love God and follow his commands, we (incl.) also love our (incl.) fellow children of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If our love for God and our obeying His commands is correct, we can know that our love for our companions who are children of God is also correct.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So if we love God and we obey his commands, that’s how we know that we also love our companions who are God’s children.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And this is what can enable us to be sure that we value all who have been as-it-were given birth to by God, this (fact) that we hold dear this God and we are obeying everything he commanded.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore if we love God and do what he commands, then we know that we must love the children of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “We who are God’s children know that we love our fellows if we love God and do as he commands.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “If we really love (esteem) God, and do what God commands, then we will know that we really have love toward our siblings.”
  • Tzotzil: “If we love God, we obey his commands. Therefore we love also his children that we are equal with (those that are his children along with us.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:3:

  • Uma: “For if we love God, its meaning, we follow his command(s). Yet his command(s) is/are not difficult to follow.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The meaning of loving God is, one should follow/obey his commandments. And it is not difficult to follow/obey his commands,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Our true love for God is our obeying His commands, and His commands are not hard to obey” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because the way we love God, it’s our obeying his commands. And his commands, they aren’t difficult to obey,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This is what is meant by our holding God dear, we are obedient to his commands. Because as for these commands of his, they are not excessively heavy.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because the person who loves God is one who does all that God commands. And what all God commands, he does not look upon as being hard, rather he does it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we love God we will do what he commands. And what he commands is not difficult for us to do.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “If we really love (esteem) God, we will do as he says. And his Word isn’t difficult.”
  • Tzotzil: “Because if we love God, we obey his commands. His commands are good. They are like a load that we do not find heavy.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:4:

  • Uma: “For all people who are-children of God defeat the power/authority of the evil-one(s) in this world. We have defeated the power/authority of the evil-ones with our faith.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “because whoever is a child of God (lit: are children of God they) he defeats all kinds of temptation in the world. That is what we (incl.) defeat the temptation in the world with, our trust in Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “for, as for us (incl.) who have now become sons of God, we can now defeat Satan who controls here in the earth; and our defeat over him is our faith in Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “because whoever is a child of God, he is continually defeating that which is on this earth which is opposed to God. And our means-of-defeating, it is our faith.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because as for each one who has been as-it-were given birth to by God, he is now able to be victorious over the rule/hold over him of evil here in this world/land. We can have this victory through the strength of our believing-in/obeying and trust in Jesu-Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because all who are God’s children depart from the evil here in this world. The belief that we have is what wins over the evil here on earth.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we are God’s children we endure to draw away from the evil which is here in the world so it does not win out over us. And because we trust in Jesus Christ, therefore we endure to draw away from the evil which is in this world so it does not win out over us.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Because whoever is born anew of God, overcomes the world. And we overcome the world by our faith.”
  • Tzotzil: “Because we have been born again in the presence of God, therefore all that is here in the world has been conquered by us. On account of our faith (its believing our hearts) is conquered by us all that is here in the world.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:5:

  • Uma: “Who are they who defeat the power/authority of the evil-ones in this world? Only the people who believe that Yesus is God’s Child.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Who can defeat the temptation in the world? Only those who believe that Isa is God’s Son.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Who is the one who can defeat Satan? It is only the person who has believed that Jesus is the Son of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because no one can-defeat that which is on this earth that is opposed to God except the one who believes that Jesus is the Child of God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well who are these ones who are being able to be victorious over this rule/hold over him of evil here in this world/land? Only those who believe that as for Jesus, he is none other than really the Son of God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “No one can leave the evil here on earth except he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Who can endure to draw away from the evil which is in this world so it will not win out over him? It is we who believe that Jesus is God’s son who endure to draw away from the evil.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Who is he who overcomes the world? He who believes that Jesus is God’s Son.”
  • Tzotzil: “Because we have believed that Jesus is God’s Son therefore has been conquered by us all that is here in the world.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:6:

  • Uma: “Yesus Kristus, he is God’s Child who arrived in the world. Yohanes the Baptizer baptized him with water. His blood flowed when he died crucified. So, it is clear that Yesus is God’s Child, not only from his being baptized, but from his dying too And the Holy Spirit also affirms-the-truth that Yesus is God’s Child, and what the Holy Spirit says is certainly true.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa Almasi is God’s Son. We (dual) know that because when he was here in the world he was bathed/baptized with water and his blood flowed when he died. We (dual) know that he is God’s Son because of the water he was bathed/baptized in and the blood that flowed, not just because of the water. And God’s Spirit also witnesses that this is true, for everything that God’s Spirit says is really true.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Jesus Christ is the one whom His Father sent here to the earth. This can be perceived by means of water and blood. This is not perceived only by water which was His baptism, but rather also by means of the blood which was the flowing of His blood at the time He was nailed to the cross. The Holy Spirit is the one who testifies this to us (incl.) for what He says is always true.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When Jesu Cristo came to this earth, there were three-things which confirmed that he was the Child of God. The one, it was his being baptized in/with water. But it wasn’t only his being baptized which confirmed-it but rather his blood as well which flowed-down at his death. As for the third, it was the Holy Spirit, and all that he says is true. These three, what they confirmed regarding Jesu Cristo was the same.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for this Jesu-Cristo, he’s the one who came down here to the world. He was baptized in water. His blood was shed (lit.caused-to-drip) at his death. He really didn’t just have himself baptized in water, but rather he also caused his blood to be shed too. And the one who testifies to this is the Espiritu Santo, because wholly truth is what this Espiritu Santo gives-out/reveals.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “This Jesus Christ came here. It was made known that he was the Son of God when he was baptized in the water and when his blood was shed where he died. But not only was he just baptized, rather he was baptized and he was killed. The Holy Spirit himself gives his testimony about who Jesus Christ is and the Holy Spirit speaks all that is true.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Jesus Christ came to this world, he was baptized, and he shed his blood dying. He did not come and just be baptized, but also he shed his blood and died. And the Spirit of God speaks about him. The Spirit speaks true words.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Jesus Christ came here to the world. He was baptized with water, he is the same one who spilled out his blood, he died, and not only was he baptized with water, but also he spilled his blood, in that he died. He is Jesus Christ, God’s Chosen-One. This is what God’s Good Spirit tells us, who shows us the truth.”
  • Tzotzil: “It is the Son of God, it is Jesus Christ that came and was baptized here in the world, that came and shed his blood on the cross. It was not only he came and was baptized. He came and shed his blood on the cross also. Thus the Holy Spirit tells us. He tells the truth. The Holy Spirit does not know how to lie.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
  • Danish (Bibelen på Hverdagsdansk, 2022): “Jesus Christ came through water and blood. Not only did he have to be born as a human being through the water, but he also had to die as a human being, so that his blood was shed. …” (Source: Iver Larsen)

complete verse (1 John 5:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:7:

  • Uma: “So, this is the way God makes-clear to us that Yesus is his Child: the Holy Spirit testifies that he is God’s Child. And what happened when he was baptized and when he died also makes-clear that he is God’s Child. These three things have the same purpose, that Yesus is God’s Child.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, three are that witness:” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There are three who witness about Jesus Christ.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When Jesu Cristo came to this earth, there were three-things which confirmed that he was the Child of God. The one, it was his being baptized in/with water. But it wasn’t only his being baptized which confirmed-it but rather his blood as well which flowed-down at his death. As for the third, it was the Holy Spirit, and all that he says is true. These three, what they confirmed regarding Jesu Cristo was the same.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The truth is, there are really three who testify about this, concerning Jesu-Cristo, as to who he really is.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But now there are three who testify in heaven to the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The first is his Father. The second is the Son of God, the one who makes known who God is. The third is the Holy Spirit. These three say the same thing.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “There are three witnesses in heaven speaking about Jesus Christ: Our Father God, and the person who is the Word, and the Spirit of God. And just the same thing speaks our father God, with what the person speaks who is the word, and with what the Spirit of God speaks.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “There are (living) three in heaven who witness saying the same thing, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. One is the Father, One is the Word, and One is God’s Good Spirit.”
  • Tzotzil: “There are three there in heaven that tell us about Jesus Christ. They are our Father God and the one whose name is Word and the Holy Spirit. The three of them say the same thing that Jesus Christ is God’s Son.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)