centurion

The Greek that is translated as “centurion” in English is translated in Noongar as “boss of the Roman soldiers (lit.: ‘men of fighting’)” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Uma as “Roman army warchief” (source: Uma Back Translation), in Western Bukidnon Manobo as “a person who was not a Jew, the captain of a hundred soldiers” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation), and in Mairasi “leader of Roman warriors” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

complete verse (Mark 15:45)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 15:45:

  • Uma: “When Pilatus heard the words of the chief, he allowed Yusuf to take Yesus’ body.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When he knew from the captain that Isa was really dead, he gave his corpse to Yusup.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when he learned that he really was dead, he permitted Joseph to get the body of Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The captain said that he was truly dead, and then Pilato granted-permission that Jose go get the corpse of Jesus.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When he knew from the captain that he truly was dead, it was okay with him for Jose to get the body.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 15:45

Text:

Instead of ptōma ‘corpse’ of the modern editions of the Greek text, Textus Receptus has soma ‘body.’

Exegesis:

gnous (cf. 6.38; 8.17) ‘finding (it) out,’ ‘learning (it).’ Revised Standard Version adds that ‘he was dead’ for clarity: there are no equivalent words in the Greek text.

edōrēsato (only here in Mark) ‘he bestowed,’ ‘he presented,’ ‘he gave.’

to ptōma (cf. 6.29) ‘the corpse,’ ‘the (dead) body.’

Translation:

Learned from the centurion that … may require adjustment to direct discourse, e.g. ‘when the centurion had told him, Jesus is dead.’

Granted must not be translated in such a way as to imply that Pilate literally handed over to Joseph the body of Jesus. A more meaningful rendering is often ‘told him that he could take’ or ‘allowed him to have.’

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 .