Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Mark 9:48)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 9:48:

  • Uma: “There people will be continually eaten by worms and tortured in fire.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There God will punish people, there will be no resting (from it) and of the suffering/enduring there will be no end.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the maggots there, they have no death, and the fire cannot be put out.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because in hell, the worms that are eating their bodies never die and the fire, it is never-extinguished.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because their hardship there really is without ending, for as for the grubs/worms which eat them, they never die, and well as-was-said, the fire never dies down.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 9:49)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 9:49:

  • Uma: “According to the Law of Musa long ago, all food that is offered to God must be salted. So all every person must be made holy with suffering.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa said yet, ‘All people have to pass through fire, that means through difficulties, in order that their trust becomes strong.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Every disciple of mine shall be prepared by means of salt and fire, which is to say, by means of hardship, so that his faith might be strenghtened.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘All people, they must experience difficulties so-that their behavior becomes-good, like the food that must be salted so-that it is delicious.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It’s true, there are hardships which will be experienced by all, which cause improvement of their ways/nature. For like the action of salt and fire, these hardships remove whatever is not good or is worthless.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Shuar: “If a person wants to give a meat killed gift to God, he is to salt it that it be good. So also people will taste/experience suffering like fire so that their heart may be good.”
  • Mezquital Otomi: “The animals long ago, those that were burned as gifts for God, it was necessary that salt be put on them as God had commanded. Also, you all are like those animals which are burned, because it is necessary that you pass through bad happenings.”
  • Tlahuitoltepec Mixe: “All of God’s people are going to suffer here on earth and when they thus do they will result much better. Thus we will imagine it like an animal sacrifice comes out much better when it is sacrificed with salt.”
  • Usila Chinantec: “Everyone will be made good through suffering, which feels like fire. All offerings to God are acceptable to him when they are salted.”
  • Mopán Maya: “Thus it was. They put salt on the animals they burn before God. It is the same with someone who is believing/obeying me. He will have tribulation [meet pain] so that that man will become good before God,”
  • Totontepec Mixe: “Everyone will have hearts like good salt when they have suffered here. This suffering is like fire. . .”
  • Sierra de Juárez Zapotec: “Everyone is going to be tried with suffering in this world.” (Source for this and six above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Mark 9:50)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 9:50:

  • Uma: “‘Salt is very useful. But if its saltiness changes with the result that it is plain/tasteless, what else could make it salty? So also, you who follow me must be like salt: Don’t let your faith become weak. You must live in unity.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He also said, ‘You do know that salt is really good. But if the salt has no more taste, it cannot become salty again. Therefore you also,’ he said, ‘you should be careful in order that you do not lose your reciprocal-respect and your reciprocal-harmony.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Not only that but salt is good because it makes food delicious, however, if salt loses its flavor, there is no way to bring back its flavor. And the same way, your works must be like salt so that you might be the means for making people better. And it is necessary that your relationship together with each one of you must become peaceful.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The salt, it has a purpose, but if it becomes-tasteless, it’s tang can definitely not be returned. So think about the use of salt and help-each-other so that you will be in-harmony.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Salt is good as long as it is indeed salty. But if it’s no longer salty, how can it be made salty again? Well as for you (pl.), you must make it your habit to be like the saltiness of this. For if you make your nature/ways like this, it’s for the benefit of one another. And persevere with being like-minded which will result in your fellowship/companionship with your fellowman being peaceful.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Mazaltepec Zapotec: “Salt gives flavor (makes food taste good). There is salt which is mixed with earth. This salt loses its flavor. If the salt loses its flavor, with what can we restore its flavor? You, my disciples, should be like good salt which does not lose its flavor. Thus you will be in peace among yourselves.”
  • Southern Puebla Mixtec: “Salt is good so that food will not go bad. But if the salt is not salty any more, how can we use it? We cannot. So you do like the good salt does. Care for your heart so that it will not go bad. You had better live at peace with one another.”
  • Korku: “Salt is good to make food acceptable, but if its saltiness is lost leaving only that which is not salt, it is no longer useful to make food acceptable. You also should have something like that in your own hearts so that you will be acceptable to one another and be at peace.” (Source for this and two above: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (Mark 10:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:1:

  • Uma: “Yesus left there and went to the land of Yudea and to the other side of the Yordan river. Many people again came surrounding him, and like usual he taught them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then Isa left from the land Jalil and went to the different-places there in Yahudiya and including to the places on the other side of the river Jordan. Again crowds of people gathered to him there. So-then they were taught by Isa, as he-used-to-do.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Jesus left the town of Capernaum, and he went to the province of Judea. Then he crossed the river Jordan, and there were many people that gathered together again to him. And since what he was doing was constantly teaching, he also taught those people.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Plural Jesus left there and they went to the region of Judea and then to the other-side of the Jordan river. The many-people surrounded them again and he taught them, because that was his custom.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus and company left Galilea again. They went to the region of Judea and went on to the other side of the river Jordan. Well many people again gathered to him there. Well, like he had been doing all along, he taught them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 10:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:2:

  • Uma: “There were some Parisi people who arrived wanting to pick a fight. They asked him: ‘According to the law of our religion, can a man divorce his wife?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Some Pariseo went close to him in order to trap him, they asked him, they said, ‘According to the law, is it possible if a person divorces his wife?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Then there were some Pharisee people who came to Jesus, for they were looking for a way to accuse him. They said, ‘Does the law allow us to divorce our wives?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There were also Pharisees that went to Jesus to try to trick-him -with-words. They said, ‘Does our law permit a man to divorce his wife?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There were some Pariseo who went to Jesus there, for the motive in their mind was to test him through this question of theirs which said, ‘Is it in harmony with the law of Moises for a man to divorce his wife?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 10:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:3:

  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘What command did the prophet Musa give you?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He answered them, he said, ‘What is the command that Musa has given to you?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “A question also was Jesus’ answer to them, he said, ‘What did Moses command us which we can read in the law about divorce?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘What did Moses command you long-ago?’ said Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied, saying, ‘Well what was it that Moises commanded you?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 10:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:4:

  • Uma: “The Parisi people answered: ‘Musa allowed a man to divorce his wife, as long as he first makes a divorce letter.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They said, ‘Musa allowed a man to sign (pilma) a letter of divorce, then he can divorce his wife.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they answered, ‘Moses allowed a man to divorce his wife but it was necessary that that man give his wife a notice of his divorcing her.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Moses allowed a man to give his wife a writing that confirmed that they had divorced, then he would make-her-leave,’ they said answering.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “They said, ‘Well, Moises did indeed permit a man to divorce his wife, provided there is a writing which is the sign that they are now divorced.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

complete verse (Mark 10:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:5:

  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘Musa wrote and delivered that command to you, because of your stubbornness [lit., your hard wisdom teeth], you are not teachable.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘That is true,’ said Isa. ‘But the reason that he wrote that command to you is, because you are not willing to follow/obey teaching/are so stubborn.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said to them, ‘The reason Moses permitted you to divorce your wives is because you reject the teaching,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Jesus said in return, ‘Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because of your stubbornness/unresponsiveness (lit. hardness of your mind/thoughts).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But Jesus replied, saying, ‘Because of the hardness of your heads, that’s why he wrote a law like that.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)