covet

The Hebrew and Greek that is typically translated as “covet” in English is translated as “bulge your eyes over what is someone else’s” in Isthmus Zapotec. (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

In Bura-Pabir it is translated with ngguka or “have strong desire for” which differentiates from silka or “jealous,” which refers not to one’s jealous attitude to one’s neighbor. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also greed / covetousness.

clothes

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated with “clothes” or similar in English is translated in Enlhet as “crawling-in-stuff” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ) and in Noongar as bwoka or “Kangaroo skin” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

complete verse (Acts 20:33)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 20:33:

  • Uma: “I have not ever desired anyone’s money or clothes.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I have never coveted a person’s property/wealth, his money or his gold, or his clothes.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Silver and even cloth of any of you, that was not my purpose.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for me, I have not requested money or clothes from even whoever of you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It’s true, I didn’t envy, wanting to get gold, silver or clothing from any of you,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 20:33

In the ancient Orient, treasures consisted not only of silver and of gold but of (fine) clothing (see James 5.2), and for this reason not only rust but also moths could be looked upon as the enemy of the rich man’s treasures.

Coveted may be rendered in some languages as “wanting to take away someone’s possession” or “wanting for myself what belongs to someone else.”

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 .