scripture

The Greek that is translated “scripture” or “scriptures” in English is translated as “God’s word which people wrote” in Guerrero Amuzgo (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125) and “paper writings” in Copainalá Zoque (source: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.).

While the term “Bible,” often used as a synonym, does not appear in the Bible itself, there’s an interesting translation of that word in Dehu. Missionaries had translated “Bible” as “Container of the Word” until they realized that this was also used for “penis sheath.” (Source: Clifford 1992, p. 87)

For other translations of scripture see all scripture is inspired by God and examined the scriptures.

complete verse (Mark 15:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 15:28:

  • Uma: “[[So, [from] what they did there, the words of the Holy Book happened that say: ‘The Redeemer King will be treated like an evil person.’]]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “One post was erected on his right-side and one on his left-side.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “By means of this the long ago prophecy written in the word of God was fulfilled. It said, ‘He was considered to be a companion of the transgressors.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “This was the coming-true of what God caused-to-be-written which says, ‘He was counted-as a criminal.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, therein was fulfilled what is there in the writing which says, ‘He was regarded/classified as being one of the robbers.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 15:28

Text:

This verse is omitted from the Greek editions of Tischendorf, Westcott and Hort, Souter, Nestle, and Taylor; included in brackets in the editions of Vogels, Lagrange, and Merk; added by Textus Receptus, Soden, and Kilpatrick. Omitted by the best manuscripts and many of the early versions, it is not in keeping with Mark’s use of O.T. Scriptures. The scripture quoted is Isa. 53.12 (cf. Lk. 22.37 where it is quoted).

Exegesis:

eplērōthē (cf. 1.15; 14.49) ‘it was fulfilled.’

hē graphē (cf. 12.10) ‘the scripture,’ ‘the passage of Scripture.’

anomōn (not used in Mark) ‘transgressors,’ ‘lawless ones.’

elogisthē (not used in Mark) ‘he was reckoned,’ ‘he was counted.’

Translation:

For scripture see 12.10, and for fulfilled see 14.49.

He was reckoned, if changed into an active form, may be rendered as ‘they counted him with,’ or ‘they thought of him as with.’

Transgressors are ‘those who break the law,’ ‘kill the law,’ or ‘do what is bad.’ In Copainalá Zoque this last clause is rendered as ‘they saw him among the bad men.’

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 .