complete verse (3 John 1:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:10:

  • Uma: “So, when I arrive, I will expose his evil behavior and his talking-behind-our (excl.)-backs. It’s not just that which he has done. More than that, when our relatives who carry the Good News stop-in at your (pl.) village, he refuses to receive them. And he also forbids those who want to receive them [to do so], and he doesn’t allow them to enter the church-service.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore when I come there, I will expose all his doings, his slanderous talk about us (excl.) and his lies. But he is not yet satisfied with those his doings. He still adds to them. It is said that he also does not accept/receive our (dual) brothers who trust in Isa Almasi when they arrive there, and he opposes those who want to treat them according to custom, it is said, and he sends them away/expels them from the langgal (prayer house: also understood as the congregation).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “When I come there, I will tell you all about all the evil that he does, for his evil words are about us are not true. And not only that, he will not care for our (incl.) fellow believers when they arrive. And he also will not allow his fellow believers there to care for them. Those who do, by contrast, care for them, he will not allow them to attend your worship.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So-then, when I go there, I will go (not redundant in RL) tell you the bad that he is doing in/by the not true-things that he is accusing us (sing.) of. And it’s not only these-things that he is doing, because neither does he have-come-in (to his house) our brothers who believe who are going to your town and moreover he forbids those who want to have-them-come-in, at-the-same-time making-them -leave the congregation of believers.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore if/when I am able to come there, I will call him to account for all that which he is doing, that he is really slandering us (excl.). And it’s like these deeds of his are not enough for him, but rather he even adds to it by not receiving those who are going teaching concerning Jesus. Far from receiving them he in fact even forbids and removes from their group of believers those who want to receive those arriving there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore when I come there, I will tell you all how it is that he doesn’t rest from telling lies about me. And he does not only do that, he also does not give a resting place to our brethren who arrive there. Anyone who wants to give them a resting place, he doesn’t want them to and he throws them outside from where the believers meet.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Therefore if I come to visit you, while you are met together I will cause him to remember how he is doing contrary to us (ex) by his lying words. And that is not all he is doing. Likewise he does not receive our brethren into his house, and the people who want to receive them into their houses he refuses to let them receive them. And the people who want to receive them, he casts them out from among you who are gathered together worshipping God.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “So when I go there I will tell you when you’re gathered together, what Diotrephes does, that he says bad things in regard to me, and not only that, but also he doesn’t welcome (receive, take in) the siblings, the sent ones who come from afar, and he hinders (prohibits) whoever intends to receive them. And he throws out of the church whoever wants to help the sent-ones.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “Hence, when I get there I will mention the things he is doing. He goes around saying harsh words against me, and not only that but he doesn’t receive the brethren. And those who want to receive the brethren, he keeps them from doing it and he keeps them from going to meeting.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (3 John 1:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:11:

  • Uma: “Friend! Don’t imitate what is evil. Imitate what is good. People who do what is good, they are-children of God [lit., relate-as-child-to God]. People who do what is evil, they do not yet know God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My beloved friend, don’t join-in/imitate the bad customs but join-in/imitate the good customs. Whoever does good, he belongs to God. Whoever does bad, he doesn’t know God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My dear brother, let us not imitate evil behaviour like that, rather what we should imitate is good behaviour. As for anyone whose actions are good, he belongs to God. As for anyone, by contrast, whose behaviour is bad, God is not in his breath.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My friend, don’t follow-the-example of what is bad but rather what is good. For the one who does what is good, he is the child of God, but as for the one who does what is bad, his thoughts are still far from God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Dear friend, don­t you copy the evil doing of others, but rather whatever is good, that is for you (to do). Because as for the one who does good, he is harmonizing with God. But as for that one who does evil, he hasn’t comprehended what the nature/ways of God are.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my dear brother, do not do the evil which that one does. Rather do good. He who does good is the one who is God’s child. But he who does evil is not an acquaintance of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “You dear Gayo, do not do evil like the evil people are doing. Do only good like the good people do. If we do good we are God’s children, but if we do evil we are not yet acquainted with God.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Loved-one, don’t follow the deeds of bad-characters, but earnestly follow the deeds of good-people. They who habitually do good, are born anew of God, but they who habitually do evil don’t know God.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “Brother whom I love, don’t be like the people who are not doing right, but be like those who are doing right. He who does right comes from God, but he who doesn’t do right doesn’t know God.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (3 John 1:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:12:

  • Uma: “As for Demetrius [emphatic], all people praise him. He is indeed fit to be praised, for his behavior follows the true teaching. We(excl.), we (excl.) also praise him, and you know that our (excl.) praise is true.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “All people talk well about Demetiri. And because of his good deeds it is also seen that he follows the true teaching. I join in witnessing for him and you know that my witness is true.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “All people praise Demetrius. They can see by means of his acts that he is obeying the true doctrine. We also praise him, and you know that what we say is true.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for Demetrius, what people are saying about him is totally good. His manner-of-life also, it confirms his goodness, because what he is doing is in harmony with the true teaching. We (excl.) also, we (excl.) confirm/recommend him to you, and you (sing.) know that what we (excl.) say is true.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, concerning our brother in believing who is Demetrio, everybody is testifying concerning the good-quality of his work/doing. Because it’s clear from his life that he really is obeying well the true teaching. Well including us (excl.) also, like that too is our (excl.) testimony concerning him, and you know that this which we (excl.) mean is true.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “All the people speak well of Demetrius and it is true what I hear spoken of him. We also give our testimony that he lives good and you all know that it is true when we say something.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Everyone speaks well of Demetrio. It is obvious that he walks with the truth (heeds/obeys it). We (ex) also tell how he does what is good. And you know that we (ex) speak true words.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “All the siblings speak well of Demetrio, and all his deeds are in accord with the true Word. Also I say the same about the man, that he is good. And you know that I speak the truth.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “Everyone praises Demetrio, and we know he follows what is true. We (ex) also praise him, and you know what we (ex) speak is true.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (3 John 1:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:13:

  • Uma: “There is still much I want to say to you, but I don’t want to write it in this letter.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I would like to say much more to you but I won’t write (it) now.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There are many things I would like to say to you but I don’t want to write them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There is still much that I want to tell you (sing.), but I have not included it in this letter” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “There’s much more which I would like to say to you which I would like to write, but I decided not to write it after all.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There are more words I want to tell you, but I do not want to write them all here on the paper.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “I thought I would write you many things, but I do not want to write more on paper.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “There is a lot that I want to tell you, but this is all (only this) I will put on this paper.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “I still have much more to write to you, but I don’t want to write it.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (3 John 1:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:14:

  • Uma: “For I hope it won’t be much longer we will meet again, so that we will talk to each other lip-to-lip.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I expect that we (dual) will soon see each other and face each other to talk.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It is my desire to come there before too long and then we can talk. May your situation there be peaceful. As for your friends here, they send greetings to you. Also greet for me all of our (incl.) friends there.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “because if possible, it will not be long and I will go to see you (sing.). Then we (du) will converse properly.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I hope/expect that hopefully I can come there to you quickly/easily, so that we can talk together in each other’s presence. I pray that hopefully with you always is the peace/protection of mind/inner-being which God gives. You are greeted by our friends here. And I want hopefully that you will greet each one of my friends there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because I await the time that I will soon come to speak with you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “I am waiting for us to meet soon and when we are together we will speak with one another in person.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Because I hope to go there in a little while, and see you, and we will talk together.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “because I am hoping to see you soon so we can chat.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (3 John 1:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:15:

  • Uma: “Goodness to you. Many greetings from all your friends here. Deliver for me my greetings to all my friends who are there, every one of them. Finish here.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “May your liver be peaceful. All your friends send word that they love/remember you. Tell for me our (incl.) friends one by one that I remember/love them. Wassalam” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “May your (sing.) life be peaceful. All your (sing.) friends here send-greetings. Please greet our friends there one-by-one. This is all I am able to say.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “May God give you peace of heart. Your friends here greet you. Please greet our friends there where you are.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “May you have peace in your heart. Your friends who are here greet you. Greet our (ex) friends there each one.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “May God rest your hearts. Your friends who are (live) here send you greetings. Greet our friends, each one who is (lives) there. This is what I tell you now.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “May your heart be quiet. Your friends send you greetings. Give greetings to each one of our friends.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

righteous, righteousness

The Greek, Hebrew, and Latin terms that are translated in English mostly as “righteous” as an adjective or personified noun or “righteousness” (also as “justice”) are most commonly expressed with concept of “straightness,” though this may be expressed in a number of ways. (Click or tap here to see the details)

Following is a list of (back-) translations of various languages:

  • Bambara, Southern Bobo Madaré, Chokwe (ululi), Amganad Ifugao, Chol, Eastern Maninkakan, Toraja-Sa’dan, Pamona, Batak Toba, Bilua, Tiv: “be straight”
  • Laka: “follow the straight way” or “to straight-straight” (a reduplicated form for emphasis)
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl, Kekchí, Muna: “have a straight heart”
  • Kipsigis: “do the truth”
  • Mezquital Otomi: “do according to the truth”
  • Huautla Mazatec: “have truth”
  • Yine: “fulfill what one should do”
  • Indonesian: “be true”
  • Navajo: “do just so”
  • Anuak: “do as it should be”
  • Mossi: “have a white stomach” (see also happiness / joy)
  • Paasaal: “white heart” (source: Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
  • Nuer: “way of right” (“there is a complex concept of “right” vs. ‘left’ in Nuer where ‘right’ indicates that which is masculine, strong, good, and moral, and ‘left’ denotes what is feminine, weak, and sinful (a strictly masculine viewpoint!) The ‘way of right’ is therefore righteousness, but of course women may also attain this way, for the opposition is more classificatory than descriptive.”) (This and all above from Bratcher / Nida except for Bilua: Carl Gross; Tiv: Rob Koops; Muna: René van den Berg)
  • Central Subanen: “wise-good” (source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “live well”
  • Mezquital Otomi: “goodness before the face of God” (source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl: “the result of heart-straightening” (source: Nida 1947, p. 224)
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “entirely good” (when referred to God), “do good” or “not be a debtor as God sees one” (when referred to people)
  • Carib: “level”
  • Tzotzil: “straight-hearted”
  • Ojitlán Chinantec: “right and straight”
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “walk straight” (source for this and four previous: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22)
  • Aari: The Pauline word for “righteous” is generally rendered by “makes one without sin” in the Aari, sometimes “before God” is added for clarity. (Source: Loren Bliese)
  • North Alaskan Inupiatun: “having sin taken away” (Source: Nida 1952, p. 144)
  • Nyamwezi: wa lole: “just” or “someone who follows the law of God” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Venda: “nothing wrong, OK” (Source: J.A. van Roy in The Bible Translator 1972, p. 418ff. )
  • Ekari: maakodo bokouto or “enormous truth” (the same word that is also used for “truth“; bokouto — “enormous” — is being used as an attribute for abstract nouns to denote that they are of God [see also here]; source: Marion Doble in The Bible Translator 1963, p. 37ff. ).
  • Guhu-Samane: pobi or “right” (also: “right (side),” “(legal) right,” “straightness,” “correction,” “south,” “possession,” “pertinence,” “kingdom,” “fame,” “information,” or “speech” — “According to [Guhu-Samane] thinking there is a common core of meaning among all these glosses. Even from an English point of view the first five can be seen to be closely related, simply because of their similarity in English. However, from that point the nuances of meaning are not so apparent. They relate in some such a fashion as this: As one faces the morning sun, south lies to the right hand (as north lies to the left); then at one’s right hand are his possessions and whatever pertains to him; thus, a rich man’s many possessions and scope of power and influence is his kingdom; so, the rich and other important people encounter fame; and all of this spreads as information and forms most of the framework of the people’s speech.”) (Source: Ernest Richert in Notes on Translation 1964, p. 11ff.)

See also respectable, righteous, righteous (person), and She is more in the right(eous) than I.

prophet

Eugene Nida wrote the following about the translation of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are typically translated with “prophet” in English:

“The tendency in many translations is to use ‘to foretell the future’ for ‘prophesy,’ and ‘one who foretells the future’ for ‘prophet.’ This is not always a recommended usage, particularly if such expressions denote certain special native practices of spirit contact and control. It is true, of course, that prophets of the Bible did foretell the future, but this was not always their principal function. One essential significance of the Greek word prophētēs is ‘one who speaks forth,’ principally, of course, as a forth-teller of the Divine will. A translation such as ‘spokesman for God’ may often be employed profitably.” (1947, p. 234f.)

Following is a list of (back-) translations from other languages (click or tap for details):

  • San Blas Kuna: “one who speaks the voice of God”
  • Central Pame and Vai: “interpreter for God”
  • Kaqchikel, Navajo, Yaka: “one who speaks for God”
  • Northern Grebo: “God’s town crier” (see more about this below)
  • Sapo: “God’s sent-word person”
  • Shipibo-Conibo, Ngäbere: “one who speaks God’s word”
  • Copainalá Zoque: “one who speaks-opens” (a compound meaning “one who discloses or reveals”)
  • Sierra Totonac: “one who causes them to know” (in the sense of “revealer”)
  • Batak Toba: “foreteller” (this and all the above acc. to Nida 1961, p. 7)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “one who is inspired of God” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Alekano: “the true man who descended from heaven” (source: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation June 1986, p. 36ff.)
  • Aguaruna: “teller of God’s word” (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125)
  • Ekari: “person who speaks under divine impulse”
  • Mandarin Chinese: 先知 xiānzhī — “one who foreknows” (or the 1946/1970 translation by Lü Zhenzhong: 神言人 shényánrén — “divine-word-man”)
  • Uab Meto: “holy spokesman” (source for this and two above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Kouya: Lagɔɔ gbʋgbanyɔ — “the one who seeks God’s affairs” (source: Saunders, p. 269)
  • Kafa: “decide for God only” (source: Loren Bliese)
  • Martu Wangka: “sit true to God’s talk” (source: Carl Gross)
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “word passer” (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22)
  • Obolo: ebi nriran: “one with power of divine revelation” (source: Enene Enene)
  • Mairasi: nonondoai nyan: “message proclaimer” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Highland Totonac: “speaker on God’s behalf”
  • Central Tarahumara: “God’s preacher” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • Coatlán Mixe: “God’s word-thrower”
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “one who talks as God’s representative”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “speaker for God” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Mezquital Otomi / Paasaal: “God’s messenger” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff. and Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
  • Noongar: Warda Marridjiny or “News Traveling” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Kutu: mtula ndagu or “one who gives the prediction of the past and the future” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • French 1985 translation by Chouraqui: inspiré or “inspired one” (“someone in whom God has breathed [Latin: in + spiro]) (source: Watson 2023, p. 45)

In Ixcatlán Mazatec a term is used that specifically includes women. (Source: Robert Bascom)

About the translation into Northern Grebo:

“In some instances these spiritual terms result from adaptations reflecting the native life and culture. Among the Northern Grebo people of Liberia, a missionary wanted some adequate term for ‘prophet,’ and she was fully aware that the native word for ‘soothsayer’ or ‘diviner’ was no equivalent for the Biblical prophet who spoke forth for God. Of course, much of what the prophets said referred to the future, and though this was an essential part of much of their ministry, it was by no means all. The right word for the Gbeapo people would have to include something which would not only mean the foretelling of important events but the proclamation of truth as God’s representative among the people. At last the right word came; it was ‘God’s town-crier.’ Every morning and evening the official representative of the chief goes through the village crying out the news, delivering the orders of the chief, and announcing important coming events. ‘God’s town-crier’ would be the official representative of God, announcing to the people God’s doings, His commands, and His pronouncements for their salvation and well-being. For the Northern Grebo people the prophet is no weird person from forgotten times; he is as real as the human, moving message of the plowman Amos, who became God’s town-crier to a calloused people.” (source: Nida 1952, p. 20)

In American Sign Language it is a person who sees into the future:


“Prophet” in American Sign Language (source )

In British Sign Language it is is translated with a sign that depicts a message coming from God to a person (the upright finger) and then being passed on to others. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Prophet” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

See also prophesy and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.