scold

The Greek that is often translated as “scolded her” in English is translated in Quetzaltepec Mixe as “scolded her directly to her face.”

fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Mark 14:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 14:5:

  • Uma: “Rather it should have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins [lit., moneys], and the money given to the poor.’ That’s why they got angry at the woman.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘It would have been better to have sold it for more than three hundred pesos and the proceeds given to the poor.’ Therefore they really scolded the woman.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “That perfume is very expensive. It’s worth was more than three hundred pieces of money. It would have been good if it had been sold, and the money could have been given to the poor.’ And they told the woman she shouldn’t have done it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That should have been sold for more than three hundred denario (Ilo. loan) so that it could be given to the poor.’ Then they repeatedly-criticized the woman.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “If it had just been sold, the value of it wouldn’t be less than a year’s wages. Well of course the payment could have been used to help the poor.’ They were really reprimanding that woman.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

large numbers in Angguruk Yali

Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”

This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.

Source: Lourens de Vries in The Bible Translator 1998, p. 409ff.

See also numbers in Ngalum and numbers in Kombai.

Translation commentary on Mark 14:5

Text:

to muron ‘the ointment’ is omitted by Textus Receptus and Kilpatrick, but included by all other modern editions of the Greek text.

Exegesis:

ēdunato gar touto to muron prathēnai ‘for it would be possible for this ointment to be sold,’ ‘for this ointment could have been sold.’

pipraskō (only here in Mark) ‘sell.’ The syntax of the Greek sentence should be noticed: the subjects of the sentence are the two verbal infinitives prathēnai ‘to be sold’ and dothēnai ‘to be given’; to muron ‘the ointment’ is the subject of the infinitives and, as Greek sentence construction requires, is in the accusative case (called by some grammarians “the accusative of general reference”).

epanō (only here in Mark) ‘over,’ ‘above,’ ‘beyond.’

dēnariōn triakosiōn ‘three hundred denarii’: the genitive is known as the genitive of price. For dēnarion ‘denarius’ cf. 6.37.

kai dothēnai tois ptōchois: as in the similar case in 10.21, ‘and the proceeds be given to the poor.’

enebrimōnto autē (cf. 1.43) ‘and they were indignant with her,’ ‘and they scolded her’: the word indicates indignation which was outwardly expressed by gestures and murmurs (cf. Lagrange).

Translation:

Might have been sold can be shifted, where necessary, into an active form, e.g. ‘a person might have sold this ointment.’

For the treatment of denarius, with some adequate marginal note or by reference to a Table of Weights and Measures, see 6.37.

When there is more than one system of numerals, e.g. an indigenous method of counting and another borrowed from some trade or national language, there is usually a distinct preference, one way or another, for expressing higher numbers. One should employ the generally preferred system.

Given to the poor is often translated in such an ambiguous manner that readers understand that the ointment is to be given directly to the poor. In languages in which the context does not completely clarify such an ambiguity or obscurity, one may translate ‘and give the money to the poor people.’

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 .