resurrection

The Greek and Latin that is translated as “resurrection” in English is translated in Chicahuaxtla Triqui and Pohnpeian as “live-up” (i.e. return to life) (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel) and in Iloko as panagungar: a term that stems “from the word ‘agungar,’ an agricultural term used to describe the coming back to life of a plant which was wilting but which has been watered by the farmer, or of a bulb which was apparently dead but grows again.” (Source: G. Henry Waterman in The Bible Translator 1960, p. 24ff. )

In Estado de México Otomi, it is translated as “people will be raised from the dead,” in Teutila Cuicatec as “the dead having to come to life again,” in San Mateo del Mar Huave as “arose from the grave” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), and in Kriol as gidap laibala brom dedbala or “get up alive from the dead” (source: Sam Freney in this article .)

See also resurrect / rise again (Jesus).

complete verse (Acts 24:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 24:21:

  • Uma: “Only one word of mine they took-offense-at. While I stood in their midst, when I said loudly like this: ‘The reason I am being examined here, is because I believe that dead people will live again.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because they don’t know of any sin (that I have done) except perhaps while standing before them, I said hep, ‘The reason I am judged/tried by you this moment is because I believe that the dead will be caused to live again.’ ‘” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because there is nothing that they know about except that which I shouted out to them when I said, ‘The only thing that you are accusing me of today is my belief that sometime in the future the dead would be raised.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because while I was there, I raised (lit. made-strong) my voice saying, ‘I believe that the dead will live again. That is the reason why you are trying me today,’ I said only to them there.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “All that I said was, speaking loudly, when I was there in their presence, ‘I am being interrogated today here in your presence because I am sure that God will make alive those who have died.”” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 24:21

Except for the one thing I called out correctly translates the Greek idiomatic expression “or concerning this one voice which I called out.” Most translations have rendered this in a way similar to what the Good News Translation has done. In a number of languages, however, it is difficult to introduce a clause with except for. One can therefore say “but I did do one thing. I called out….”

The passive expression I am being judged by you can be changed into the active “you are judging me,” but in this particular instance “judging” does not imply neutral determination of a case but primarily condemnation. Therefore one may translate in some languages “you are condemning me today because I believe that the dead will rise to life.”

On the remainder of this verse see the comments on 23.6.

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 .