bound themselves by an oath

The Greek that is translated in English as “bound themselves by an oath” or similar is translated in Lalana Chinantec as “cursed themselves.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Paul (icon)

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also Paul.

Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also Paul (icon).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 23:14)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the chief priests and elders).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Acts 23:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:14:

  • Uma: “So, those that had vowed went to the leading priests and other leaders of the Yahudi people, they said: ‘We(excl.) really promised with vowing, that we (excl.) would not first eat anything if we (excl.) have not-yet killed Paulus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then they went to the leading priests and to the elders to tell about this. They said, ‘We have sworn that we really will not eat as long as we (excl.) have not been-able-to-kill Paul.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then they went to the chiefs of the sacrificers and of the elders and they said, ‘Our agreement is drawn very tight that we should not eat or drink until we have killed Paul.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then they went to the leaders of the priests and elders of the Jews and said, ‘We (excl.) have sworn that we (excl.) will not eat until our (excl.) killing of Pablo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “After they had vowed, they then went to the chiefs of the priests and important tribal-leaders. On arriving, they said, ‘There is something we (excl.) have vowed, which is that we (excl.) won’t taste food until we (excl.) have killed Pablo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 23:14

Although this verse begins with a participle, most translations employ a finite verb—for example, they went.

The difference between vow in verse 12 and solemn vow in verse 14 is simply an expression of the intensity with which the vow is affirmed. One might reflect this difference in some translations by using in verse 12 “have made a promise,” and in verse 14 “have made a very strong promise.”

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 .