The Greek that is translated into English as “(this) generation” is translated as “the people now” into Chol, “those who are in space now” into Tzeltal or “you people” into Tlahuitoltepec Mixe. (Source: Bratcher / Nida; Mixe: Robert Bascom)
Generic terms for the Greek that is translated as “generation” include “(people of one) layer” (Ekari, Toraja-Sa’dan, Batak Toba), or “one storey of growing” (Highland Totonac, using a term also denoting a storey or floor of a building). (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
The Greek that is typically translated in English as “sign” is translated in Huehuetla Tepehua as “thing to be marveled at” (source: Larson 1889, p. 279) and in Mairasi as “big work” (source: Enggavoter 2004).
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 )
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts “swallow (by a large fish).” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 16:4:
Uma: “No kidding your evil, you still always deny God! You ask for miracles. But not one miracle will be shown to you. On the contrary, what will be shown it you is a sign like what happened to the prophet Yunus long ago.’ After that he left them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “The people of this day are bad and do not follow God and ask for a sign. But there will be no sign shown to you except only the sign of Nabi Yunus of old.’ After that Isa left them and went away.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “You people today, you are very bad. Love for God is no longer in your breath.’ Then Jesus said again ‘Why do you want to see a sign? The only sign which will be shown to you is like that sign which Jonah long ago was caused to do.’ And then he left them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “The people now are very-bad, because they have turned-their-backs-on the true God. They insist that I show them an amazing sign, but nothing will be shown except only the sign that is like what happened to Jonas back before.’ Jesus said that, then he left them and went-away.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “As for all of you, your nature/ways are evil. You are like a married woman who is habitually-immoral, who doesn’t have any concern for her marriage, for that’s what you are doing to God. You say you are asking for a sign, but none will be shown to you, except that sign which was illustrated in what Jonas experienced.’ And then he left them and went away.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the people who live now, they are evil people who do not know God. First they must see the miracle before they will believe in me. But there will not be another miracle now, only that which Jonah went through will take the place of a sign for the people now.’ He left the people and went.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
An evil and adulterous generation: the word adulterous is used here, as frequently in the Old Testament, in the religious sense of “unfaithful to God.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “unfaithful” and New American Bible renders “faithless.” Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1st edition translates this adjective as a separate clause, connecting it with the sentence that follows: “They do not want to know about God, but they want to see a miracle.”
The sign of Jonah: see comment at 12.38-39. The only difference in 12.39 and the first part of this verse is that 12.39 says “the prophet Jonah” instead of Jonah. However, many translators use “the prophet Jonah” here too, since their readers are unlikely to know who Jonah was.
Since the two verbs left and departed refer essentially to the same event, it is possible to use only one verb: “So he went away.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “So he left them standing and went away,” which is similar to Jerusalem Bible‘s “And leaving them standing there, he went away.” Barclay reverses the order: “He went away and left them.”
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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