“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep’. In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)
In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCAM, p. 70)
Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “Sabbath” in English is rendered as “day we rest” in Tzotzil, in Mairasi as “Jew’s Rest Day,” in Quiotepec Chinantec as “day when people of Israel rested,” in Shilluk as “day of God,” in Obolo as Usen Mbuban or “Holy Day,” and in Mandarin Chinese as ānxírì (安息日) or “rest day” (literally: “peace – rest – day”).
(Sources: Tzotzil: Marion Cowan in Notes on Translation with Drill, p. 169ff; Mairasi: Enggavoter 2004; Quiotepec Chinantec: B. Moore / G. Turner in Notes on Translation 1967, p. 1ff.; Shilluk: Nida 1964, p. 237; Obolo: Enene Enene; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)
In the old Khmer version as well as in the first new translation this term was rendered as “day of rest” (Thngai Chhup Somrak / ថ្ងៃឈប់សំរាក). Considered inadequate to convey its religious meaning (not only about cessation of work, but also in honor of Yahweh as the Creator), the committee for the Today’s Khmer Version (publ. 2005) decided to keep the Hebrew word and use its transliterated form Thgnai Sabath (ថ្ងៃសប្ប័ទ). “The Buddhist word Thngai Seil ‘day of merits’ used by some Catholics was once under consideration but was rejected because it did not receive unanimous support.” (Source: Joseph Hong in The Bible Translator 1996, p. 233ff.)
In Spanish, the translation is either día de reposo (“day of rest”) or sábado (usually: “Saturday,” derived from the Greek and Hebrew original. Nida (1947, p. 239f.) explains that problem for Spanish and other languages in its sphere of influence: “In translation ‘Sabbath’ into various aboriginal languages of Latin America, a considerable number of translators have used the Spanish sábado, ‘Saturday,’ because it is derived from the Hebrew sabbath and seems to correspond to English usage as well. The difficulty is that sábado means only ‘Saturday’ for most people. There is no religious significance about this word as the is with ‘Sabbath’ in English. Accordingly the [readers] cannot understand the significance of the persecution of Jesus because he worked on ‘Saturday.’ It has been found quite advantageous to use the translation ‘day of rest,’ for this accurately translated the Hebrew meaning of the term and resolves the problem in connection with the prohibitions placed upon some types of activities.”
In French Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts closing of the blinds of a store:
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 12:12:
Uma: “But a person is more important than a sheep. So, if thus, we (incl.) are very allowed to help people on the day of worship.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “A person is hep more valuable than a sheep. Therefore it is right to do good on a day-of-no-work.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And a person is far more precious than a sheep. Therefore we (dual) do not break the law if we help a person even on the Day of Rest.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “People are far-away more valuable than sheep, so of course our law allows us to help our companions on the day for-resting.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “A person really is much greater than a sheep! Therefore it’s not against the law of the Day of Rest if it’s good work, which is help to one in need.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Well, how about a person, it is clear that he is of more value than a sheep. Therefore even though it is the day of rest, it is necessary to do good.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
This verse represents a style of argument which was widely employed by Jewish teachers. It is known as “the argument from the lesser to the greater”; in the present context the sheep is the “lesser” and the man is the “greater.” Jesus’ argument is based on the following logic: “Since it is allowable to give help to a sheep (the lesser) on the Sabbath, it is also allowable to give help to a man (the greater) on the Sabbath.” As noted in Matthew 12.1, the Jewish teachers did allow for help to be given to a person on the Sabbath (for example, food to a starving person), if life were in danger. But the man’s life is not here in jeopardy, and so the laws regarding the Sabbath are still in effect. Jesus’ argument in this case is that the total well-being of a person has priority over the laws which define what may be done on the Sabbath.
Of how much more value…! is formulated in Greek in such a way as to lay stress upon the words Of how much more, and most modern translations attempt to carry through this emphasis. For some language situations it may be obligatory to shift to a statement: “And a man is worth much more than a sheep” (Good News Translation).
If the question form, Of how much more value, is retained, it is important that readers do not think Jesus wants his hearers to somehow put a price marker on the difference in value between sheep and people. A statement as in Good News Translation or an imperative will help: “Think how much more valuable….”
To be of more value means to be “worth more” (Good News Translation) or “more important.” A phrase like “costs more” would be wrong here.
So indicates that this statement of Jesus is the logical conclusion to his argument. “So then” or “Obviously, therefore” will be appropriate translations, as will “Since this is so.”
So it is lawful refers once again to the Jewish Law (Good News Translation “our Law does allow us”); see comments on verse 10. As indicated in the introduction to this chapter, the real purpose of this entire narrative (verses 9-14) is to emphasize Jesus’ pronouncement contained in this verse: So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.
It is lawful can be “it is not against our Law,” or “the Law does allow,” or “it is permitted by the Law.”
To do good can be rendered “to do good to someone” or “to do something good for someone.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “to help a man.”
Barclay reformulates the reply of Jesus: “Obviously, there is no law to stop a man doing good on the Sabbath Day.” Evidently “no law” of Barclay means “not one of our laws relating to the Sabbath.” The sentence can be reversed: “So to do good for someone on the Sabbath does not break the Law” or “… is permitted by the Law.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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