Zechariah

The name of the father of John the Baptist that is transliterated as “Zechariah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “beard (the sign for a patriarch)” + “mute.” (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


“Zechariah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

See also Elizabeth.

complete verse (Luke 1:40)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 1:40:

  • Noongar: “Mary entered the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “When she arrived at the house of Zakharia, she went in and greeted Elisabet.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When she arrived there, she went to the house of Jakariya and said to Elisabet, ‘Assalamu alaikum.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when she arrived there to Zechariah and Elizabeth, she spoke-in-greeting.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When she arrived there, she entered their house and greeted Elizabet.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “On her arrival at the home of Zacarias and spouse, she greeted Elisabet at once.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 1:40

Exegesis:

kai ēspasato tēn Elisabet ‘and she greeted Elizabeth.’

aspazomai (also 10.4) ‘to greet,’ here of the person who enters, as the substantive aspasmos in 1.29, 41.

Translation:

And. Because the story leaves untold Mary’s arrival in the city it may be necessary to make the transition less abrupt, e.g. by preparing it in v. 39, cf. .’.. she arrived at a city in Judah, (40) and then she entered’ (Navajo); or by starting v. 40 with, ‘there,’ or, ‘on her arrival there.’

She entered and greeted, or, ‘having entered she greeted,’ ‘on-entering she greeted’ (Balinese). For greeted cf. on v. 29 and on “hail” in v. 28; Tboli has here, ‘called to,’ as one does when coming up the stairs of a house but not seeing anyone right away; Navajo has, ‘said peace/friendship to,’ a common way of reporting a friendly greeting, although ‘peace/friendship’ is not part of the actual formula of greeting.

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.