years (age)

In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).

Norm Mundhenk tells this story:

“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”

In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also advanced in years.

complete verse (Genesis 5:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 5:26:

  • Kankanaey: “Starting-from then, Metusela lived still for 782 years and he also had other children.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After that he lived 782 years. Other sons and daughters were also born to him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After Lamec was-born, Metusela lived 782 more years and his children increased-in-number even more.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Methuselah lived 782 years after Lamech was born, and became the father of other sons and daughters.” (Source: Translation for Translators)