Pilate

The name that is transliterated as “Pilate” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language (as well as in French Sign Language) with the sign signifying the washing of hands (referring to Matthew 27:24). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


“Pilate” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “government/governor” plus the sign for “P” with a circular movement. The reference to government indicates Pilate’s position of authority in the Roman Empire. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Pilate” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

complete verse (Mark 15:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 15:8:

  • Uma: “So, the crowds gathered, they requested to Pilatus that he release a person who was imprisoned like he usually did every year.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Many people went to Pilatus and they requested that he release one prisoner as was his custom to do every year.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when the people came to Pilate to beg him to release a prisoner according to his custom,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, the many-people gathered where Pilato was and requested that he release a prisoner because that was his custom.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Some people approached Pilato and asked him to do that which he had made a custom of.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Mark 15:8

Text:

Instead of anabas ‘coming up’ of the modern editions of the Greek text, Textus Receptus has anaboēsas ‘crying out.’

After kathōs ‘even as’ Textus Receptus and Merk add aei ‘on every occasion,’ which is omitted by the majority of modern editions of the Greek text.

Exegesis:

anabas (cf. 1.10) ‘coming up’ of, ‘going up’: the verb describes the movement of the crowd up to Pilate, in the praetorium (v. 16). The exact location of Pilate’s residence, in Jerusalem, is a matter of dispute.

ērxato aiteisthai kathōs epoiei autois ‘(the crowd) began to ask (Pilate to do) as he (always) did for them’: in order to fill out the meaning of the Greek, which is concisely stated, it is necessary to add the words in parentheses. The imperfect epoiei indicates habitual action, ‘he always did,’ ‘he was in the habit of doing’ (cf. apeluen in v. 6).

Translation:

Came up may be rendered literally, implying that the crowd ascended into the palace, or may be translated as ‘approached’ or ‘came up to.’

Ask Pilate to do … must sometimes be shifted into the form of direct discourse, e.g. ‘asked Pilate, Do for us what you always do at this time of year.’ ‘At this time of year’ may be required in order to indicate that the action requested was not habitual throughout the year. However, such an addition may not be required if the rendering of ‘at the feast’ sufficiently clarifies the context.

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 .