pregnant

The Greek, Latin and Hebrew that are translated as “(become) pregnant” in English is rendered as “got belly” (Sranan Tongo and Kituba) as “having two bodies” (Indonesian), as “be-of-womb” (Sinhala), as “heavy” (Balinese), and as “in-a-fortunate-state” (Batak Toba). (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)

In Kafa it is translated as “having two lives” (source: Loren Bliese), in Southern Birifor as tara pʊɔ or “to have stomach,” in Kamba as “be-heavy” (source for this and above: Andy Warren-Rothlin), and in the Swabian 2007 translation by Rudolf Paul as kommt en andere Omständ, lit. “be in different circumstances.”

In Mairasi it is translated as “have a soul [ghost].” (Source: Enggavoter, 2004)

nurse (verb)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “nurse” in English is translated in German as stillen or “to quiet.”

The das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) and the BasisBibel (publ. 2021) also use the same verb in Psalm 131:2 (for this choice, see here).

complete verse (Matthew 24:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 24:19:

  • Uma: “How pitiable for women who are pregnant and who are nursing their children at that time, for it will be difficult for them to flee.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Andý’, (exclamation of concern) the pregnant ones and those with small children are to be pitied in those days.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “On that day, pity very greatly the pregnant women and those with nursing children for they will have a very difficult time running away.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In those days pitiful (empathy particle) will be the pregnant and those who have nursing-infants.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Really pitiful will be those who are pregnant and have nursing children in those days.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But pity the women who are pregnant at that day or those who nurse babies.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 24:19

This verse can surely be understood in any culture. Pregnant women (those who are with child) and women with small children (those who give suck) cannot move quickly or easily. Moreover, these statements reflect the fact that invading armies took particular delight in ripping open pregnant women and dashing the heads of babies against rocks.

Translators should use whatever expression is natural and polite for speaking of pregnant women, those who are with child. As for those who give suck, in some societies such a reference to a mother nursing her baby will be perfectly acceptable, but for others, this expression or its equivalent is not polite, and translators have to do something similar to Good News Translation, “mothers with little babies.”

Notice that Good News Translation has moved the expression “in those days” near to the beginning of the sentence. This is more natural in English.

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 .