Language-specific Insights

complete verse (John 2:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 2:25:

  • Uma: “He did not need anyone to tell him what men were like, because he already knew what was in the hearts of men.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Even if he was not told, he certainly knew as to what was in the liver of men/mankind.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Even though no one told him what was in the breath of people, he knew it already because he knew beforehand what the breath (attitude) of mankind is.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “because he knew the character/behavior of all people. He didn’t need someone to tell him what was in their mind/thoughts, because he emphatically of-course already-knew-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It really wasn’t necessary for someone to tell him, because he really knows what is in the mind/inner-being of man.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It wasn’t necessary for someone to tell him what people were thinking because he himself knows what the thoughts of a person are.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:1)

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

  • Uma: “There was a man named Nikodemus. Nikodemus was a Parisi person and a leader of the Yahudi religion.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then there was a certain leader of the Yahudi called Nikodemus. He was a Pariseo.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There was a person named Nicodemus. He was one of the group called Pharisees. As for this Nicodemus, he was one of the head men of the Jews.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There was a leader of the Jews named Nicodemus who belonged to the party/group of the Pharisees.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There was a leader of the Judio whose name was Nicodemo. He was one of those called Pariseo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There was a man who was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. This man was a boss of the Jews.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:2:

  • Uma: “One night, he came to meet-with Yesus, he said to him: ‘Teacher, what we (excl.) know [is], you are a teacher sent by God, because there is no person who can do miracles like what you do, if God is not with him.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “One night he went to Isa and he said, ‘Sir, we (excl.) know that you are a teacher sent here by God. For you would not be able to do the wonder-causing works that you do if you were not given power by God.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He went to Jesus at night, and he said to Jesus, ‘Datu, we know that you are a teacher whom God has sent, because the miracles which you do, the only one who can do like this is a person to whom God has given power.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “One night, he went to where Jesus was and said to him, ‘Sir teacher, we (excl.) know that God has sent you (sing.) to teach us (excl.). Because absolutely no one can-do the amazing signs that you (sing.) have-been-doing if God is not with him.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “One night he made-a-house-call on Jesus. He said, ‘Teacher, we (excl.) know that you are a Teacher raised up by God, because no-one can do amazing things like you are doing unless he is being helped by God.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “This Nicodemus went one night to talk with Jesus. He said, ‘Teacher. We know that God has sent you to teach us. Because no one can do the signs you do if God doesn’t enable him.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:3)

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

  • Uma: “Yesus said saying to him: ‘These my words are very true: if a person is not born again, he will not become a subject of God in his Kingdom.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa answered he said, ‘Truly I tell you, if a person is not born again, he is not able to see the ruling of God/kingdom of God.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus answered saying, ‘What I say to you is true that a person can only be included among the people whom God rules over if he allows himself to be born again.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘This that I tell you (sing.) is true,’ said Jesus in reply. ‘If a person is not born again, he can not join-in-experiencing God’s ruling.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus answered, saying, ‘This really is the truth which I will tell you. No-one can be included in the kingdom of God unless he has been given birth to again.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you that he who doesn’t live anew cannot be in God’s hand.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:4:

  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “How can an old man get little and be born again? Can he get inside his mother and be born again?”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “. . . How can a grown man have a new life? He cannot enter into the womb of his mother to be born again.”
  • Alekano: “. . . One having become big, how will he appear new? How will he enter up into his mother’s stomach and she give birth? ” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “Nikodemus said: ‘Can a person who is already old be born again? Can he put himself in the womb of his mother and be born a second time?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Nikodemus said, ‘How can a person be born again when he is already old? He cannot enter again the womb of his mother and be born again.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And this Nicodemus asked saying, ‘How can a man who is already old be born again? He can’t return back to the stomach of his mother so that he can be born again.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And then Nicodemus inquired, ‘How perhaps can a grown-man be born again? Can-he-return do-you-suppose into the stomach of his mother in order to then be born a-second-time (lit. repeat to be born)?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Nicodemo asked, ‘How can a person be born again when he is now old/mature? Can he yet enter again into the womb of his mother and be born again?'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Nicodemus asked, ‘But how can he? How can a man who is old again live anew? Can he again enter into the inside of his mother in order to again live anew?'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:5)

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

  • Ojitlán Chinantec: “. . . God cannot rule in the heart of a person if he has not been born another time.”
  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “The one who gives new life consists of water and of the Holy Spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit, he cannot go into where God reigns.”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: ” . . . He who doesn’t receive water again, and he who isn’t born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, he cannot go into where God reigns.”
  • Tataltepec Chatino: “Jesus said, ‘It is true what I tell you. It is necessary that a person be baptized with water and the Holy Spirit give him a new life. Then that person will be in God’s hand.” (John 3:6 included) (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘These my words are very true: If a person is not born with water and with the power of the Spirit of God, he will not become a person of God in his Kingdom.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa answered, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, if a person is not born from water and from the Spirit of God, he cannot enter the ruling/kingdom of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said again, ‘It is true what I say to you that a person can be included among the people whom God rules over only if he is born by means of water and by means of the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘This that I tell you (sing.) is true,’ answered Jesus. ‘If a person is not born by/with water and by/with the Holy Spirit, he can not join/belong-to the ruling of God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied, ‘This is the truth which I say to you. No one can be included in the kingdom of God unless he has been given birth to through/by water and the Espiritu Santo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said, ‘It is true what I tell you. It is necessary that a person be baptized with water and that the Holy Spirit give him a new life. Then that person will be in God’s hand.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:6:

  • Umiray Dumaget Agta: “That which originates from the body of a person is the body of a person. That which originates from the Spirit of God is spirit.”
  • Aguaruna: “Those born from people are people. Those born by God’s spirit, they have God’s spirit.”
  • Ojitlán Chinantec: “All the children of human beings are human beings by birth. All who are born another time, this being the work of the Holy Spirit, these are new people.”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “One who is a child of people, he has his flesh and bones. And one who has his new life by the power of the Holy Spirit, he has the Spirit of God.”
  • Chol: “He who is born of a mother is given a body. He who is born of the spirit is given life in his heart.”
  • Alekano: “One that people give birth to will surely have a person’s soul. One that the Spirit gives birth to, he will surely have the Spirit’s soul.”
  • Tenango Otomi: “A child, when it is born, if his parents are only people, is also only a person. But in order for a person to live anew, only the Holy Spirit can cause it.”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “People’s flesh and blood causes our flesh and blood to be alive when we are born. But the great Spirit of God causes our hearts to be alive.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “Man lives in this world, and is born from his parents. But the new life of his soul he receives from the Holy Spirit.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “What is born of mankind is mankind/human. But if a person is born again from the Spirit of God, he is made a child of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That which is born by means of a human is only human also, but that which is born by means of the power of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit lives in him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because the one to whom a person gives-birth, he is humanlike (connotes limited, sinful humanity), but the one by-contrast to whom the Holy Spirit gives-birth, he is spiritual (loan naispiritoan).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because the one given birth to by a human, he is indeed human, a slave yet to sin. But that one who has been given birth to again, for he has been given birth to by the Espiritu Santo, he is now free from that slavery.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “A child, when it is born and his parents are only people, is also only a person. But in order for a person to live anew, only the Holy Spirit is able to cause it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:7:

  • Uma: “So, do not be surprised at these my words that say: you all must be born again.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Do not wonder/marvel because I said to you that you all (pl.) must be born again,’ said Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Don’t be surprised by what I say to you that you must be born again.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Don’t (sing.) be surprised then at what I said that you (pl.) must be born again.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “So don’t be amazed by this which I’m saying to you (sing.) that you (pl.) must be given birth to again.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Do not be surprised at what I tell you. All people must live anew.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)