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The Greek term that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

In San Blas Kuna it is rendered as “help the heart,” in Laka, it is “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver,” in Huautla Mazatec the back-translation of the employed term is “lift out on behalf of,” in Anuak, it is “have life because of,” in Central Mazahua “be healed in the heart,” in Baoulé “save one’s head” (meaning to rescue a person in the fullest sense), in Guerrero Amuzgo “come out well,” in Northwestern Dinka “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source: Bratcher / Nida), and in Noongar barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In South Bolivian Quechua it is “make to escape” and in Highland Puebla Nahuatl, it is “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand.” (Source: Nida 1947, p. 222.)

See also salvation.

complete verse (Acts 16:30)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 16:30:

  • Uma: “He brought them outside and he said to them: ‘What must I do so I will not be punished?'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then he took them outside and he said to them, ‘Sirs, what must I do so that I will be saved?'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he took them outside, and he said, ‘What can I do so that I might be freed from the punishment of God?'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then he brought-them -out to the outside and said, ‘Sir(s), what must I do to be saved?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “He then caused them to go with him outside and then he questioned. He said, ‘Excuse me, tell me what I must do so that I can be saved.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 16:30

Saved should be taken with full theological meaning, since this is evidently the meaning intended by Luke, and not simply as a reference to what the jailer hopes to do in order to save himself from this bad situation. However, in many languages a term for saved implies both physical escape as well as moral and spiritual change. If both can be combined in this context, the meaning becomes even more relevant.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .