complete verse (Mark 13:37)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 13:37:

  • Uma: “What I say to you here, I also say to all people: Be on the watch!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, what I say to you, I say to all people: Do not be careless.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “These things I tell you, I say also to all people, that each one should watch.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This that I have commanded you, I also command to all people so that you will all be prepared.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This which I am saying to you, I am also saying to everyone, that you really must all be ready.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff.), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

Translation commentary on Mark 13:37

Exegesis:

grēgoreite (cf. v. 34) ‘you must watch.’

Translation:

Say is used in this verse in two different meanings: (1) addressing particular persons and (2) uttering something which is universally applicable. This may require two different verbs in another language, e.g. ‘what I am saying to you I mean for everyone,’ ‘what I am now talking to you about includes everyone’ or ‘what I am telling you I am also saying for the benefit of everyone.’

For watch see verse 33.

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 .