right hand of

The Greek and Hebrew that is typically translated as “(to the) right hand of” is often translated much more descriptively in other languages. In Yakan it is translated as “at the right side, here in the greatest/most important/most honored place/seat,” in Mezquital Otomi as “the right hand, at the place of honor,” in Chuj as “exalted at the right hand,” in Chichimeca-Jonaz as “in a high place there at the right,” in Lalana Chinantec as “make great,” in Isthmus Mixe as “given great authority,” in Morelos Nahuatl as “placed big” or “heart-strengthens me,” in Isthmus Mixe as “stays with me,” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August, 1966, p. 86ff), and in Teutila Cuicatec as “in all authority at the right side” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.).

In Lamnso’, the seat on the right-hand side signifies that the person seated there would have a higher position than the one to his left (vs. just being a seat of honor). To circumvent any misunderstanding of the biblical text, the translation here refers to the “highest seat next to God.” (Source: Karl Grebe in Holzhausen 1991, p. 52)

For Old Testament examples of blessing and power associated with God’s right hand, see Gen 48:14, 48:17, Exodus 15:6, 15:12, Psalm 48:10, 80:15, 80:17, 89:13.

complete verse (Mark 10:40)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:40:

  • Uma: “But as for who will sit on my right and my left, it’s mot I who determines that. It’s God who determines who gets that portion.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But as for seating (anyone) on my right or on my left,’ said Isa, ‘it is not I who decides/rules that. But those seats belong to those whom God has prepared them for.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “however, I am not the one to choose who will be caused to sit on my right side and on my left side. For the only ones who will be able to sit there are those for whom my Father God has prepared it.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But the one who will sit at my right and left, I have no authority to say, because God has already chosen the ones to sit there.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But it doesn’t originate with me to determine who will sit at my right and left. As for those seats referred to, there are those they are being reserved for.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 10:39 – 10:40

Exegesis:

to de kathisai ek dexiōn mou ē ex euōnumōn ‘but to sit at my right or at my left.’

euōnumos (15.27) literally ‘well-named’: an euphemism for ‘the left’ to avoid the sinister connotation of the word.

ouk estin emon dounai, all’ hois hētoimastai ‘is not mine to give, but (it is) for those for whom it has been prepared.’

all’ ‘but’ modifies the whole preceding phrase ‘to sit … is not mine to give,’ representing a denial on the part of Jesus that it is he who will decide who shall occupy the places of honor. The word is not to be translated ‘except’ as though Jesus were saying that he could not give the places of honor to the two brothers but only to those for whom these places had been prepared (as does Manson, following Turner: ‘I am not free to give to any but those for whom it is already destined’): on this interpretation cf. Swete.

hetoimazō (cf. 1.3) ‘prepare,’ ‘keep in readiness’: the passive ‘has been prepared’ presupposes God as the subject, ‘God has prepared.’ As Lagrange says, the word here reflects the concept of the predestinating action of God (which several translations convey by the use of ‘it is destined’: cf. Goodspeed, Moffatt, Manson; others, ‘it is reserved’: cf. The Modern Speech New Testament, Montgomery, Berkeley).

Translation:

Said may need to be rendered as ‘replied.’

We are able requires in certain languages expansion by some complementary verb, e.g. ‘we are able to do that.’

The clause to sit at my right hand … is not mine to grant must be recast in some languages, for one cannot use a possessive such as mine to describe a particular capacity to do something. For example, in Tzeltal one must change the clause to read ‘but I cannot give that you sit….’

It in the final clause (occurring twice) refers to the prerogative to sit on the right and the left. In some instances one must substitute a verb expression ‘to do that’ or a noun phrase ‘this position.’

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .