Language-specific Insights

complete verse (John 12:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:21:

  • Uma: “Those Yunani people went to Filipus, they said to him: ‘We want to meet with Yesus.’ (Filipus was from Betsaida town in Galilea land.)” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They went to Pilip and they said to him, ‘Sir, we (excl.) would like to see/meet with Isa.’ This Pilip was a disciple of Isa from the village of Betsaida there in Jalil.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And they went to Philip. (as for Philip, he was from Bethsaida in the province of Galilee.) And they said, ‘We want to speak with Jesus.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They went to Felipe (who was from-Betsaida a town in Galilea) and they said to him, ‘Sir, we (excl.) would please speak-with Jesus.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “They approached a disciple named Felipe who was from Betsaida in the district of Galilea. They initiated-an-arrangement saying, ‘Master, we (excl.) want hopefully to meet/see Jesus.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “These went to Philip who was a native of Bethsaida in the land of Galilee. They asked a favor, saying, ‘Sir, we want to speak with Jesus.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 12:22)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:22:

  • Uma: “Filipus went to tell Andreas and the two of them went to inform Yesus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Pilip went and told Andariyas, then the two of them went to tell Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for Philip, he told this to Andrew and then they went together to Jesus and they told him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Felipe went and told Andrew, and then they accompanied-each-other to go tell Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Felipe told to Andres what those Griego had said. They two went together and told Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Philip told Andrew what they had said. Together the two went to tell Jesus.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 12:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:23:

  • Uma: “Yesus said to them: ‘The time has come, for me the Child of Man to be made big.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa answered them, he said, ‘My time has come now. I, the Son of Mankind, I will now soon be honored/made great.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus said, ‘In just a very short time, it will be revealed to everyone my highness over everyone.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Jesus said, ‘The time has already arrived when I who am Child of a Person, I will be praised because-of my death.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied, saying, ‘The time has been reached when the praiseworthiness/glory of the One From Heaven Born of Man will be revealed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Then Jesus said, ‘Soon the Man who came from heaven will be seen to be the greatest.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 12:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:24:

  • Uma: “These my words are very true: I may be compared to rice. If rice is not planted in the ground and covered up like a dead-person, it just [will stay] the same. But if it is planted, its fruit will be much.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Truly I tell you, that one grain of seed remains just one grain as long as it is not put in the soil. But when it is put in the soil already, figuratively like it has died and is buried, na then it sprouts and has much fruit.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It is very true what I say to you, that if a seed is not buried in the earth, it cannot have offspring. And if it is buried and it sprouts, it will bear much fruit. I am the same way because if I die, many will be given new life.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Like what happens to a seed. Because this that I tell you is true that if a seed is not planted in order to thus rot and sprout, it will remain-unchanged only-one. But if it is planted and rots, then it will sprout and will bear-much -fruit.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This is the truth which I am saying to you, an illustration of me is, like planting-seed. As for planting-seed, when it’s planted it’s like it will die because it will rot, but that’s how it will become many. But if it isn’t planted, it’s only by itself.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Truly I tell you that it is necessary that I be killed in order that many will find the new life. It is like a seed of wheat which remains just one seed when it isn’t placed in the ground. But when it is placed in the ground, the seed grows and much wheat is gathered at harvest.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

    • Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:24:
    (In many languages it is necessary to avoid using the word ‘die’ because a dead seed will not grow.)

  • Ojitlán Chinantec: “Truly I tell you, if a grain of wheat is planted, the grain perishes when the plant comes up, but then many grains of wheat are produced. But the grain remains alone if it does not perish and come up as a plant. Also in that manner it is necessary that I die so that my people may multiply.”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “This is the truth. If a seed is going to give its fruit, it is necessary that it be buried in the earth. And when it is buried, first it appears as if it were destroyed, but later it will give its fruit. And thus also it will happen to me when I am buried. ” (Source for this and one above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

Note: “In many languages it is necessary to avoid using the word ‘die’ because a dead seed will not grow.” (Source: John Beekman)

complete verse (John 12:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:25:

  • Uma: “The person who clings to his own desires will lose his life in the future. But the person who lets go of his desires in this world, he will receive good life forever.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Likewise are also people/is a person. If he really values/loves his life here in this world he will not have eternal life. But if he does not value/love his life in this world, he will have life forever.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The person who sets his heart on his life here on earth, he will die just the same, but the person who because of me doesn’t set his heart on his life here on earth, he will get life forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If a person values his life, he will die anyway. But if he considers that his life in this world is not valuable, in-the-future he will live forever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “If what a person really values greatly are his own desires and lifestyle, it’s certain that this will be lost to him. But that one not overly valuing his life, for it’s not his own situation which is important to him, life which is without ending really will be his.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He who tries to escape death is the one who will lose his life. But he who gives up his life here on earth will be given the new life forever.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 12:26)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:26:

  • Uma: “Whoever of you wants to become my worker, must follow me, so that wherever I go, there also you. My Father will honor you who become my workers.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa said, ‘Whoever wants to do my commands, he should follow me. So-then wherever I am, there he will be also. Whoever does my commands my Father will honor.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is a person who wants that he would be my servant, he must follow me, for where I am, there my servant will be also. And if there is one who fulfills my commands, my Father God will praise him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whoever serves me, it is necessary that I be the one he continues to follow in order that where-I-am, that also will be where-he-is. And that-one who serves me, my Father will honor him.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The one serving me, he must be obedient-to/always-following me, and where I will go, this one serving me will indeed go there. Whoever serves me will really be rewarded with good by the Father.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He who wants to do my will must follow me. And where I will be there must he be also. He who does my will will be looked favorably on by my Father.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 12:27)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:27:

  • Uma: “‘I am sad. I do not know what I must say. There is in my heart that wants to cry: ‘Father, free me from the suffering that is ready to strike me!’ But that is why I have come to the world, in order to suffer/undergo that suffering.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa spoke yet/continued, he said, ‘My liver is very troubled now. Na, what shall I say? Shall I ask my Father that he shall not sent to me this suffering? I do not ask this, for this is really the reason that I came that I should experience this suffering.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My breath is very painful today. What shall I say? It cannot be that I beg my Father that he not cause me to endure this which I am expecting which is very hard to bear. Because the reason I came here to the earth was that so I might experience this which I am being causd to endure.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then Jesus continued to say, ‘Here-now my thoughts are in-a-turmoil. What perhaps will I pray to my Father? Will I perhaps say that he rescue me from my dying? No, because that was my purpose in coming here, to undergo/suffer all these-things.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Now it’s like I’m being disturbed/distracted. Well, shall I say ‘Father, save me from this hardship/suffering which I will experience’? But I won’t say like that, because I have no other purpose in coming here other than so that I will experience this hardship.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now I don’t know what to do. What shall I say? I can’t say, ‘My Father, save me from what I must pass through. Because for that which I must pass through is why I came.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 12:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:28:

  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “Rather I will say, ‘Let people say that you are great.’ And when Jesus said this, that is when a word came from heaven which said. . . “
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Then he prayed, ‘Father, cause yourself to receive more honor.’ Then God who is in heaven spoke, saying to him, ‘I have caused myself to receive honor, and I will cause myself to receive more honor.'”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “‘My Father, do what is necessary so that people will worship you.’ That’s what Jesus said. So God spoke from heaven. He said, ‘I have done what is necessary so that people will worship me. I will also do it again,’ he said.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “I say like this: Father, make big your name(s)!’ From there, there was someone who spoke from the sky saying to Yesus: ‘I have already made big my name, and I will make it big again.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then Isa spoke to God, he said, ‘O Father, honor/make great your name.’ Immediately there was a voice from the sky saying, ‘I have already honored/made great my name and I will make it great/honor it again.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Jesus said to his Father God, he said, ‘Father, show the people your great power.’ And then there was a word which came from heaven which said, ‘I have already shown my power by means of you, and I will show it again.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then he said to God, ‘Father, please show your (sing.) godhood so that your (sing.) name will be honored.’ And there was a voice from heaven that said, ‘I have already shown-it and I will show-it again.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When Jesus had said that, he said, ‘Father, show the big-size of your praiseworthiness/glory.’ There was a voice which the people heard, coming from heaven, which said, ‘I have already shown it, but I will show again my praiseworthiness/glory.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Then he said, ‘My Father. May it be known that you are the greatest.’ Then it was heard from above, ‘I have caused it to be known that I am the greatest. And again I will cause it to be known that I am the greatest.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)