sheep

“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep’. In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCAM, p. 70)

Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).

See also lamb.

The good shepherd (image)

Hand colored stencil print on washi by Sadao Watanabe (1975).

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe.

For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

complete verse (John 10:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 10:15:

  • Uma: “‘I am the good shepherd. Like my Father knows me, and I know my Father, so also I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. I give my life so that my sheep live.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I,’ said Isa, ‘am figuratively the shepherd who takes good care of his sheep. I and my Father really know each other. Likewise I also know the people who belong to me and they also know me. I submit to dying for the people who belong to me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I am the one who cares for the sheep who is very careful. I know who my father is, and he knows also who I his son am. It is the same way with the people who belong to me. They know who I am and I know also who they are. And I allow myself to be killed as a substitute for the people who belong to me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But I however am the good care-taker. Because the mutual-knowing of my sheep and me, it is the same as the mutual-knowing of my Father and me. I moreover am the one who will die so that my sheep have a way to live.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I am the good shepherd. In the way in which I am known by my Father and he also is known to me, like that indeed I know my own sheep and they also know me. And I really will give my life/breath just because of them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I am like a good shepherd. My Father knows me and I also know my Father. Like this now, I know all of my sheep. They also know me. And I give up my life to save my sheep.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 10:15

In Greek these two verses are one sentence, which undergoes some restructuring in Good News Translation. The opening statement, I am the good shepherd, is followed in Greek by “and I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” Good News Translation inverts the order of comparison by placing first the comparative clause as the Father knows me and I know the Father and then introducing the main clause (in the same way I know my sheep and they know me). In this clause Good News Translation translates the first Greek “my own” as my sheep, and the second by the pronoun they. This change is legitimate, since in the last clause in Greek sheep are explicitly referred to (literally “and I give my life for the sheep”). Good News Translation introduces earlier the information that those whom Jesus calls his own are his sheep; therefore, Good News Translation is able to render the second reference to sheep by the pronoun them. In this context the verb translated know should be understood in the sense of “intimate acquaintance with.” The meaning is not “knowing about,” but personal knowledge, based upon acquaintance and familiarity.

I am willing to die for them is similar in construction to the Greek of verse 11 (the good shepherd is willing to die for the sheep). The element of willingness, which Good News Translation includes, finds its basis in verse 18 (I give it up of my own free will). To die for them must be expressed in some languages as “to die in order to protect them.” However, in others it is possible to employ a kind of benefactive, for example, “to die for their benefit” or “to die in order to help them.” In one language the expression to die for them is rendered literally “to give my heart for them,” indicating not only death, but also emotional concern.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .