specificity in sequence of actions

The following story is relayed by Martha Duff Tripp as she led the translation of the New Testament into Yanesha’ (p.277):

Casper Mountain [an Amuesha translator] insists on giving full accounts of actions in a specific event. For example, when we read how Jesus calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, he insists, “Jesus would not just say, ‘Lazarus, come out’.” — “Why would Jesus not say that?” I ask in amazement. “Because he would know that Lazarus would have to get up first before he would come out. We need to say ‘Lazarus, I say to you, get up and come out’.” So be it! This is the way that Amusheas would express it.

with a loud voice

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “with a loud voice” in English is translated in Low German idiomatically as luuthals or “loud-throated” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).

It is also used in Acts 19:28 for krazó (κράζω).

Lazarus raised (image)

Hand colored stencil print on momigami by Sadao Watanabe (1981).

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 11:43)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 11:43:

  • Uma: “After that he called loudly: ‘Lazarus! Come here!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When he had said this, he called loudly, he said, ‘Lasarus, come out.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And after he said this, he spoke loudly, ‘Hey Lazarus, come out of here!'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then he said shouting, ‘Hey Lazarus, come-out!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When he had said that, he shouted out saying, ‘Lazaro come out!'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “After saying this he called to the corpse, ‘Lazarus! Come out from where you are.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 11:43

Since the clause After he said this refers to Jesus’ statement to his Father in heaven, it may be necessary in some languages to use a verb for “pray,” for example, “After he had prayed in this way” or “After he had prayed these words.”

The verb called out is also used of the crowds who want to crucify Jesus (John 18.40; 19.6,15).

Come out translates two adverbs in Greek, which may literally be rendered “here, out.” The first of these adverbs (deuro) is used with the force of a command, and so may legitimately be translated as inGood News Translation and most other translations. Jerusalem Bible seeks to maintain the adverbial emphasis of “here,” and so translates as though Jesus were calling a pet, “Lazarus, here! Come out!”

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 .