prophesy

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The Hebrew and the Greek that are translated in English versions as “prophesy” are translated into Anuak as “sing a song” (source: Loren Bliese), into Balanta-Kentohe as “passing on message of God” (source: Rob Koops), and into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that does not only refer to the future, but is “speak on behalf of God” (source: Robert Bascom).

Other translations include: “God making someone to show something in advance” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “God causing someone to think and then say it” (Aguaruna), “speaking God’s thoughts” (Shipibo-Conibo), “God made someone say something” “Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac) (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “proclaim God’s message” (Teutila Cuicatec), “speak for God” (Chichimeca-Jonaz), “preach the Word of God” (Lalana Chinantec), “speak God’s words” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “that which God’s Spirit will cause one to say one will say” (Mayo) (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), and “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom).

In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:

  • For Acts 3:18, 3:21, 3:25: nurwowohora — “mouth says words that don’t come from one’s own mind.” (“This term refers to an individual’s speaking words that are not his because either a good or bad spirit is at work through him. The speaker is not in control of himself.”)
  • For Acts 19:6, Acts 21:9: nakotnohora — “talk about.” (“The focus of this term is on telling God’s message for the present as opposed to the future.”)
  • For Acts 21:11: rora — “foretell” (“The focus of this term is giving God’s message concerning the future. The person who speaks is aware of what he is doing and he is using his own mind, yet it is with God’s power that he foretells the future.”)

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

See also prophet and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

spirit (of God)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “spirit” in English is translated in Kutu as loho yangu or “spirit which gives people life.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Acts 2:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 2:18 and Joel 2:29:

  • Uma: “Even [arrive-arrive to] my servants/slaves, man or woman, I will give them my Spirit on that day, and they will utter my words.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Yes, God said, even to my servants male-and-female, I will send my Spirit in those days and they will speak/spread my word/message.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And those who are my servants,’ he said ‘male and female, I will cause them in the future to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and I will inspire them, and they will cause people to understand my word.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Even the slaves who serve me, men and women, I will cause-my Spirit -to-enter them and they will tell what I cause-them -to-speak.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Yes indeed, at that time, I really will grace all my servants, female, male, causing them to be indwelled by my Espiritu Santo. And then through his inspiring them, they will speak what I am causing to be known by people.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quotes, see Joel 2:28ff.

Translation commentary on Acts 2:18

Due to the particularly emphatic form of the Greek expression, the Good News Translation text introduces an emphatic use of yes and the form even on … both … and. This is formally different from the Greek, but it is a very effective and close equivalent.

In some languages the term for slaves carries such unfortunate connotations that one can scarcely use it, especially in this type of context in which God speaks of his slaves. Hence, one may use the equivalent of “servant,” “those who work for me,” “those who do what I say,” or “those who obey me.”

In those days, of course, refers to in the last days of the preceding verse.

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 .