chariot

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

In Eastern Highland Otomi it’s translated as “cart pulled by horses” (source: Larson 1998, p. 98) and in Chichicapan Zapotec as “ox cart” (in Acts 8). Ox carts are common vehicles for travel. (Source: Loren Bliese)

In Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.) and in the Hausa Common Language Ajami Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

It is illustrated for use in Bible translations in East Africa by Pioneer Bible Translators like this:

Image owned by PBT and Jonathan McDaniel and licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

See also cart.

complete verse (Acts 8:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 8:29:

  • Uma: “The Spirit of the Lord God spoke to Filipus, he said: ‘You (sing.) go get close to that cart over there.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The Holy Spirit said to Pilip, ‘Go near that kalesa alongside.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The Holy Spirit said to Philip, he said, ‘Go over there and get near to that cart.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The Holy Spirit, he said to Felipe, ‘Go approach that calesa.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Without anything further, Felipe was inspired by the Espiritu Santo, who said, ‘Approach there and go along side that vehicle.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 8:29

An angel of the Lord had supernaturally instructed Philip to go down towards Gaza, and now the Holy Spirit points out to Philip the reason for the previous instructions. In the Greek text “Holy” is not used as a modifier of Spirit in this passage, but it is evident that Luke means the Holy Spirit.

The expression stay close to that carriage is translated in a number of languages as “walk along close beside the carriage.” Obviously the eunuch was continuing his journey as he read.

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 .