complete verse (John 3:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:8:

  • Lalana Chinantec: “‘The wind blows just wherever it wants to. We hear the sound but we do not know where it comes from. We do not know where it is going. And that is what the person whom the great Spirit of God has caused to be alive is like. It is evident that he is alive, even though we do not know how it is that that has happened.’ That’s what Jesus said to Nicodemus.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “For example wind, it blows wherever it goes. We just hear its rustling, we do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So also with a person who is born from/by the power of the Spirit of God.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘An example/a figure is the wind. The wind blows wherever it wants to. It is not known where the wind comes from or where it goes to but you hear it’s sound. Like that is also a person when he is born from the Spirit of God, it is not known as to how (it happens) but (that it is) true.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for the wind, it goes just any old where, and we can tell because we can hear its noise. But we cannot tell where it comes from or where it’s going. It is the same way also with the power of the Holy Spirit in a person who is born by means of his power because this cannot be understood by a mere person.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because even though the way it happens can not be understood, it happens nonetheless. It’s like the wind. We don’t know where-it-comes-from and where-it-goes, because what it does is up-to-it, but we feel-it nevertheless. It’s the same with all who are born by the Holy Spirit.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Consider this. The wind blows wherever it wishes. We can hear the rustle and see the movement of things it is blowing, like a sign of its strength. But we can’t see this wind. We don’t know where it is going and where it came from. Well, it’s like that indeed when someone is given birth to by the Espiritu Santo. For the work/activity of the Espiritu Santo, it’s just like the activity of the wind. We can’t control him and we can’t see him. We can only see natures/ways he has made new in people who have been given birth to again.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You know that the wind goes anywhere it wants to go. You hear it blowing but you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes. In like manner the Holy Spirit who gives new life to people, you do not see.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:14)

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

  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “Moses hung up the snake out where it was quiet. Well, also in the same way it is necessary that I should be hung up, I who am the friend of all men.”
  • Alekano: “Just like Moses a long time ago in the wilderness lifted up the thing made to look like a snake, they will surely lift up me the true man.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “‘Long ago in the wilderness, the prophet Musa made an image of a snake from brass, and he put it on the end of a wooden pole and stuck it in the ground to stand it up. Whoever was bitten by a snake, if they looked up at that brass image of a snake, they would live. So, like that brass snake was made high long ago, so also I the Child of Mankind must be made high,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Musa in old times, at the time when he was there in the lonely place together with the tribe of Isra’il, he made (a thing) in the shape of a snake from brass and lifted it up and hung it onto a post so that when the people who had been bitten looked at that snake would get well. Likewise I, the Son of Mankind, I also have to be lifted up onto a post and be killed,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then Jesus said again, ‘Long ago when Moses was still out in the land where nobody lives, he made a brass snake and he put it on wood and he raised it up. As for me, the older sibling of mankind, that is the same thing that is going to happen to me in the future because I also will be fastened to a wood and raised up.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And what will happen to me, it is like what happened to the imitation/fake snake which Moses fastened-to and raised-up on a post when they were walking through the place with no inhabitants. Because I also who am Child of a Person, I must be fastened-to the cross and be-raised-up” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And in the way in which Moises put-up-high what he’d made which was like a snake there in the wilderness, putting it on wood/tree which he set up, like that indeed is what will be done to me who am the One From Heaven Born of Man. They will nail me to a cross and then put-up-high like that snake which was made.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There in the wilds, Moses made a metal snake and standing up a pole he raised it high. In like manner it will happen to the Man who came from heaven, it is necessary that the cross be stood up with him on it.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:17:

  • Chol: “But God did not send his Son here to earth in order to cause the world to be punished; he sent him here in order that they might find their salvation from God’s Son.”
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “God sent his Son to earth here not so that he would decide about humans that they are guilty, but rather so that he would save mankind out of evil.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “It is not God’s purpose to send his Child here to the world in order to punish / condemn men. His intention in sending his Child here is in order to lift men from the punishment of their sins.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “God sent his Son to the world not to drop judgment on mankind but to take away their sins.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for God, he did not send me, his child, here to earth to punish mankind, but rather so that by means of me mankind might be set free.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because God didn’t send his Child to this world to sentence/condemn people, but rather that they would be saved through him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because the reason why God caused his Son to come here was not that people be sentenced to punishement, but on the contrary so that he could free/save these people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “God did not send his son here to earth in order to sentence the people. Rather he sent him here to earth that he save the people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:18:

  • Chol: “He who believes will not have to pay for his sins. He who does not believe, he is already beginning to pay for his sins because he does not believe on the name of the only Son of God.”
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “The person who trusts in the Son of God, it is already determined about him that he does not have guilt, but the person who does not trust in him it is determined about him that he does have guilt. . .” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “People who believe in the Child of God, they are not punished/condemned. But people who do not believe, it is clear that they will be punished/condemned by God, because they do not want to believe in that Only Child of God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Whoever trusts in the Son of God will not be hit by the judgment of God. Those who do not trust, have already been hit by the judgment of God because they do not trust in Isa, the only Son of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Anyone who believes in me, he will not be punished by God, but those who do not believe in me, it is known beforehand that they will be punished. Because as for me, the only child of God, they have not believed in me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore those who believe in him, they will emphatically not be punished. But those who don’t believe, they have already been sentenced/condemned to be punished, because of-course they didn’t believe in the only Child of God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As many as will believe-in/obey and trust-in/rely-on him will really not be sentenced with a sentence of punishment. But those who don’t believe/obey, they have already been sentenced to be given punishment, because they are not believing-in/obeying this one-and-only Son of God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He who believes the Son of God will not be sentenced. But he who does not believe, already is sentenced because he does not believe in the only Son of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 3:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:21:

  • Uma: “People whose behavior is straight arrive in the light, so that their behavior is visible and so that it is clear that they follow the will of God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But all who do the straight/righteous go into the light so that it is clearly seen that their doings are in accord with/follow the commands of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However he who obeys the true doctrine (religious belief), he, by contrast, will come to the light. And the reason he will come to the light is so that it might be known that by means of the power of God, he was able to perform righteously.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But those who follow the truth, they approach the light so that it will be clearly shown that God is the originating doer of the good they are doing.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But the one who now lives in straightness/righteousness, there’s no longer anything holding him back from coming close to this light, so that his doing which is following/obeying the will of God may be apparent.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But those who live good go near to where the Son of God is. Because they want it to be known that they do the will of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “It is not that way with the people who obey the true word of God. They permit it to shine in their hearts because they want to act in such a way that people will realize that God is helping them with whatever they do.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

complete verse (John 3:30)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:30:

  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “It is necessary that it be known that he is the great one. But it is necessary that I be thought nothing of.”
  • Aguaruna: “He will be more surpassing. I will not be great, I will be small.”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “He must be honored by many people, but I will no longer be honored.”
  • Chol: “Christ must be the more important one. I must be made less important.”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “It is necessary that they follow Jesus more and more and that they follow me less and less.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “He is the one whose life must be made high, and my life must be made low.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “He has to become greater/more honored but I have to become lower/less,’ said Yahiya.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For example, if there is a man being married, the bride belongs to him. As for the wedding arranger, his breath is very good when he hears that bridegroom talking with the one he has married. It’s like that also because it pleases me very much if many follow Jesus,’ said John. ‘It is necessary that mine should be removed.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It is necessary that he be-made-greater (lit. high) while-simultaneously I become-lower.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It’s necessary that he becomes praiseworthy/highly-praised, but as for me, I just become insignificant.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “That one, the people must know better that he surpasses, and I must be second more.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

complete verse (John 4:1)

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

  • Uma: “The Parisi people heard that more and more people were going asking Yesus to baptize them becoming his followers, with the result that number of followers of Yesus surpassed the followers of Yohanes the Baptizer.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then the Pariseo heard that many more people were reportedly becoming disciples of Isa and bathed by him than those that became disciples of Yahiya. (” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The Pharisees heard the news that Jesus was making more disciples and Jesus was baptizing more people than John was; however Jesus himself wasn’t baptizing, but it was his disciples. And when Jesus also heard this news he left the province of Judea and he returned to the province of Galilee.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The Pharisees, they heard-reported that Jesus was reportedly persuading and baptizing more disciples than Juan.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The Pariseo got news that many were the people who were being drawn to and baptised by Jesus, many more than to Juan.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The Pharisees knew that many learners were gathered by Jesus and that he baptized many more people than John.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “You whom I love, do not believe the words of just anybody who says that the Spirit of God is in his head-heart, but rather test them if the Spirit of God is in their head-hearts in order for them to speak true words. Many people are going about in this world lying saying they are proclaiming God’s word.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Loved ones, we can’t believe all whatever word is said to be God’s Word. But you must taste (try out) the words, so that you will know if a word is truly the Word of God, or not. Because many deceiver prophets (word-passers) are walking here in the world.”
  • Tzotzil: “You that I love, do not believe whatever word you hear. Be wise, listen if it is the same as God’s word. Because there are many here in the world who think wrongly they are saying God’s word.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (John 5:39)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 5:39:

  • Umiray Dumaget Agta: “You read the writings carefully because you mistakenly think that you will live forever because of them. These, however, are what tell of me.”
  • Huehuetla Tepehua: “It is necessary that you study well God’s words since you say that there you will find everlasting life up in heaven. And you will find that even there it talks about me.”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “You read where the word of God is written down, for you think that you will live forever because you have the word of God. But I am the one the word of God is speaking about.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Uma: “You study the contents of the Holy Book, because you say that you receive good life forever from that Holy Book. But the Holy Book itself also talks about me.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “You really persevere studying the holy-book because you think that if you study you will find/obtain life forever in heaven. And-what’s-more this holy-book tells about me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “You study the written word of God because you suppose mistakenly that by means of this you will be able to own eternal life. The written word of God testifies about me, however you don’t believe in me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “You study-and-study what God caused-to-be-written long ago, because you mistakenly-think that if you do that, you will have life that has no end. But I of-course am the one that that-aforementioned writing talks-about,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “You keep going over and over the word of God in your writings, because you’re sure you will find there how life which has no ending may be yours. However as for these, they testify only concerning me.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You earnestly study the Holy Book you have because you thus want to find out about the new life which is forever. And the one written about in that Holy Book you study is me.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)