deacon

The Greek that is often translated as “deacon” in English is translated as kavumbi in Chokwe, someone “who serves another, not from compulsion or for a wage, but because of vumbi or grace.”

(Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff.)

wine

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are translated as “wine” in English is translated into Pass Valley Yali as “grape juice pressed long ago (= fermented)” or “strong water” (source: Daud Soesilo). In Guhu-Samane it is also translated as “strong water” (source: Ernest L. Richert in The Bible Translator 1965, p. 198ff. ), in Noongar as “liquor” (verbatim: “strong water”) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Hausa as ruwan inabi or “water of grapes” (with no indication whether it’s alcoholic or not — source: Mark A. Gaddis), or in Papantla Totonac and Coyutla Totonac as “a drink like Pulque” (for “Pulque,” see here ) (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ).

In Swahili, Bible translations try to avoid local words for alcoholic drinks, because “drinking of any alcohol at all was one of the sins most denounced by early missionaries. Hence translators are uncomfortable by the occurrences of wine in the Bible. Some of the established churches which use wine prefer to see church wine as holy, and would not refer to it by the local names used for alcoholic drinks. Instead church wine is often referred to by terms borrowed from other languages, divai (from German, der Wein) or vini/mvinyo (from ltalian/Latin vino/vinum). Several translations done by Protestants have adapted the Swahili divai for ‘wine,’ while those done by Catholics use vini or mvinyo.” (Source: Rachel Konyoro in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 221ff. )

The Swahili divai was in turn borrowed by Sabaot and was turned into tifaayiik and is used as such in the Bible. Kupsabiny, on the other hand, borrowed mvinyo from Swahili and turned it into Finyonik. (Source: Iver Larsen)

In Nyamwezi, two terms are used. Malwa ga muzabibu is a kind of alcohol that people specifically use to get drunk (such as in Genesis 9:21) and ki’neneko is used for a wine made from grapes (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

In some Hindi translations (such as the Common Language version, publ. 2015 ), one term (dākharasa दाखरस — grape juice) is used when that particular drink is in the focus (such as in John 2) and another term (madirā मदिरा — “alcohol” or “liquor”) when drunkenness is in the focus (such as in Eph. 5:18).

In Mandarin Chinese, the generic term jiǔ (酒) or “alcohol(ic drink)” is typically used. Exceptions are Leviticus 10:9, Numbers 6:3, Deuteronomy 29:6, Judges 13:4 et al., 1 Samuel 1:15, and Luke 1:15 where a differentiation between weak and strong alcohol is needed. The Mandarin Chinese Union Version (2010) translates that as qīngjiǔ lièjiǔ (清酒烈酒) and dànjiǔ lièjiǔ (淡酒烈酒), both in the form of a Chinese proverb and meaning “light alcohol and strong drink.” (Source: Zetzsche)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about wine in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also proceeds from the vine / anything that comes from the grapevine and wine (Gen 27:28).

complete verse (1 Timothy 3:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 3:8:

  • Uma: “Thus also is the character that is required of people who become helpers in the Lord’s work. Their character must be clear [i.e., wise, mature] and fit to be honored. They must not be liars, they must not be ones who drink too much intoxicants, and they must not be ones who think only about money.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then about the persons titled also to help the leader in the prayer-house, their custom must also be good and they should be trustworthy. They ought not drink what causes drunkenness and they ought not to be greedy for money.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In the same way also should be the deacons, which is to say, those who help the believers; their behavior must be good. They must be respected people; they fulfill what they say they are going to do. They are not drunkards, and they do not cheat in order to get wealth.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As-for those who may-be-chosen as helpers of the leaders, it is also/similarly necessary that they be worthy to be respected and not double-tongued (lit. tongues not turned-inside-out). They must not be drunkards and being-greedy-for (lit. grabbing-after) money.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well as for these helpers of these overseers, it’s also necessary that they have good natures/ways, that they are respected by others. It’s necessary that whatever they say is true, they aren’t a slave to intoxicating-drink, and not a person who does anything at all which isn’t good just so as to make-money.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the people who have the position of helping at the church, they also must do like that, they must be good people. They must not deceive in their speech. They must not be drunkards. They must not have their hearts set only on money.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 3:8

Likewise signals the fact that deacons are as important as bishops and must also have good character and exemplary qualifications.

The qualifications of deacons start off with what looks like a generic term, followed by three prohibitions and several positive traits. First of all, then, deacons must be serious. This is the same word used in 3.4 (there translated “respectful”). The term in fact includes a wide range of meanings: dignified, worthy of respect, having a good character (compare Good News Translation), high principled, honorable, “dignified” (Revised English Bible), “respectable” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The first prohibition is not double-tongued. To be double-tongued is to be insincere, not trustworthy, indulging in harmful gossip, spreading different versions of the same story, saying one thing to one person and something entirely different to another. The meaning may be expressed positively; for example, Good News Translation “sincere,” Translator’s New Testament “They must mean what they say.” Most languages will have one or more figurative or idiomatic expressions for the idea of double-tongued.

The second prohibition is not addicted to much wine. Here again, as in the case of the “bishops,” the emphasis is not on abstinence from wine but on moderation (see the discussion on 1 Tim. 3.3).

Thirdly, deacons must not be greedy for gain. Some form of dishonesty is included in the meaning of the term; so New International Version “pursuing dishonest gain.” It is very likely that deacons were involved in the administration of food and funds to widows and other needy members of the community and therefore were prey to temptations of embezzlement and other forms of dishonesty. In many languages translators will find Good News Translation‘s “not greedy for money” a good model. One may also express this as “must not be overly concerned with getting money,” or figuratively, “must not be money-hungry.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .