Satan

The Greek that is typically transliterated in English as “Satan” is transliterated in Kipsigis as “Setani.” This is interesting because it is not only a transliteration that approximates the Greek sound but it is also an existing Kipsigis word with the meaning of “ugly” and “sneaking.” (Source: Earl Anderson in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 85ff. )

In Morelos Nahuatl it is translated as “envious one” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.) and in Tibetan: bdud (བདུད།), lit. “chief devil” (except in Rev. 20:2, where it is transliterated) (source: gSungrab website ).

complete verse (1 Timothy 5:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 5:15:

  • Uma: “The reason I say this is because there are some widows who no longer follow the desire/will of Kristus, they are following the desire/will of the King of Evil-ones.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because there are already widows who have turned their backs on God and the one whom they follow/obey is the leader of demons.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason I say this is because there are widow women who have abandoned their following Christ, and they have submitted themselves to Satan.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This is what I instruct, because there are some widows who have already gone-astray to follow Satanas.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I’m having to talk like this because several widows have already dropped/given-up their belief now. Well there’s nothing else but that they’re again under the jurisdiction of Satanas.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because there are some widows who have already gone apart, they are now doing the devil’s will.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 5:15

For some may also be expressed as “For some of the younger widows.”

It is urgent for younger widows to remarry, have children, and manage their households in order to prevent them from falling into the clutches of Satan; some in fact have already done so: they have already strayed after Satan. Strayed translates a word that already occurs in 1.6, where it is rendered “wandered away.” For Satan see 1.20.

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 .