cause to stumble, offend

“The word ‘offend’ as a translation of the Greek skandalizó seems to cause all sorts of trouble for translators. The difficulty is that the meaning of this word covers such a wide area. The basic meaning of the Greek is ‘to cause to stumble by putting some impediment in the way.’ The present central meaning of English ‘offend’ is often quite different. In some languages there is no metaphorical value in a translation ‘to cause someone to stumble.’ If the language permits no such metaphor, the translator should not attempt to force it. In Highland Totonac, the metaphor ‘to show the wrong road to’ is used in a manner almost exactly parallel to the Greek idiom.” (Source: Nida 1947)

In San Blas Kuna the translation is “spoil the heart” (source: Claudio and Marvel Iglesias in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 85ff.).

See also fall away, stumble.

Mary (mother of Jesus)

The name that is transliterated as “Mary” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with arms folded over chest which is the typical pose of Mary in statues and artwork. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


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

In American Sign Language it is translated with a sign for the letter M and the sign for “virgin,” which could also be interpreted as “head covering,” referring to the way that Mary is usually portrayed in art works. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

In the Burmese Common Language Version (publ. 2005), Mary is described as a king’s mother by using the royal noun suffix taw / တော် with the word “mother” in Matthew 1:16 and Luke 2:33. This is done to highlight the status of Jesus as a king or the divine Son. Othjer passages where taht is used include Matthew 2:11, 13, 14, 20, and 21. (Source: Gam Seng Shae, The Bible Translator 2002, p. 202ff.) See also Jesus’ human vs. divine nature in modern Burmese translation.

carpenter

The Greek that is traditionally translated as “carpenter” in English is translated in the English by Ruden (2021) as “builder.” “[The Greek word] tektōn means simply |skilled workman|. I choose builder because the likelihood that Jesus| family were among local artisans employed in rebuilding the new city of Sepphoris [which was destroyed in 4 BC], close to Nazareth.” (p. xliii)

When he grew up he worked as a carpenter until the age of thirty (image)

“Carpenters are considered skilled craftsman who do detailed work. Here, Jesus is making a wooden spindle on which his mother will spin silk thread.”

Drawing by Sawai Chinnawong who employs northern and central Thailand’s popular distinctive artistic style originally used to depict Buddhist moral principles and other religious themes; explanation by Paul DeNeui. From That Man Who Came to Save Us by Sawai Chinnawong and Paul H. DeNeui, William Carey Library, 2010.

For more images by Sawai Chinnatong in TIPs see here.

James (brother of Jesus)

The Greek that is transliterated as “James” is translated in Swiss-German Sign Language with a sign that depicts putting faith into action.


“James” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “tongue,” referring to James 3:5 and following. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of James from the 16th century.

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Mark 6:3)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the inclusive form (including the people talking among themselves).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Mark 6:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 6:3:

  • Uma: “He is just a house builder, Maria’s child. His relatives are Yakobus, Yoses, Yudas and Simon. His female relatives, they are here with us too.’ That’s why they refused to believe in Yesus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (incl.) recognize hep this man. He is the carpenter, the child of Mariyam. His brothers hep are Yakub and Joses and Judas and Simon. And his sisters are hep here in this our place.’ And they were angry at Isa. (lit. their liver hurt)” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “They said, ‘He’s that carpenter. His mother is Mary, and his brothers are James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. His sisters are here also in our village. Why is he so wise? Where perhaps did he get his wisdom? Why can he do miracles?’ And so they did not accept what Jesus was teaching.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Isn’t this-one don’t-you-suppose the carpenter Maria’s child? Aren’t Santiago, Jose, Judas and Simon his siblings/cousins? His female siblings/cousins moreover, they also live here.’ Therefore they were offended with him and they didn’t believe.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Isn’t it so that he is the carpenter who is the son of Maria and older-sibling of Santiago, Jose, Judas and Simon? Isn’t it so that living here indeed are his younger-sisters?’ They really didn’t acknowledge him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)