demon

The Hebrew and Greek that is typically translated/transliterated in English as “demon” is translated in Central Mazahua as “the evil spirit(s) of the devil” (source: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation July, 1967, p. 5ff.).

In Sissala it is translated with kaŋtɔŋ, which traditionally referred to “either a spirit of natural phenomena such as trees, rivers, stones, etc., or the spirit of a deceased person that has not been taken into the realm of the dead. Kaŋtɔŋ can be good or evil. Evil kaŋtɔŋ can bring much harm to people and are feared accordingly. A kaŋtɔŋ can also dwell in a person living on this earth. A person possessed by kaŋtɔŋ does not behave normally.” (Source: Regina Blass in Holzhausen 1991, p. 48f.)

In Umiray Dumaget Agta it is translated as hayup or “creature, animal, general term for any non-human creature, whether natural or supernatural.” Thomas Headland (in: Notes on Translation, September 1971, p. 17ff.) explains some more: “There are several types of supernatural creatures, or spirit beings which are designated by the generic term hayup. Just as we have several terms in English for various spirit beings (elves, fairies, goblins, demons, imps, pixies) so have the Dumagats. And just as you will find vast disagreement and vagueness among English informants as to the differences between pixies and imps, etc., so you will find that no two Dumagats will agree as to the form and function of their different spirit beings.” This term can also be used in a verb form: hayupen: “creatured” or “to be killed, made sick, or crazy by a spirit.

In Yala it is translated as yapri̍ija ɔdwɔ̄bi̍ or “bad Yaprija.” Yaprijas are traditional spirits that have a range presumed activities including giving or withholding gifts, giving and protecting children, causing death and disease and rewarding good behavior. (Source: Eugene Bunkowske in Notes on Translation 78/1980, p. 36ff.)

In Lamnso’ it is translated as aànyùyi jívirì: “lesser gods who disturb, bother, pester, or confuse a person.” (Source: Fanwong 2013, p. 93)

In Paasaal it is translated as gyɩŋbɔmɔ, “beings that are in the wild and can only be seen when they choose to reveal themselves to certain people. They can ‘capture’ humans and keep them in hiding while they train the person in herbalism and divination. After the training period, which can range from a week to many years, the ‘captured’ individual is released to go back into society as a healer and a diviner. The gyɩŋbɔmɔ can also be evil, striking humans with mental diseases and causing individuals to get lost in the wild. The Pasaale worldview about demons is like that of others of the language groups in the area, including the Northern Dagara [who use kɔ̃tɔmɛ with a similar meaning].” (Source: Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)

See also devil and formal pronoun: demons or Satan addressing Jesus.

complete verse (Matthew 8:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 8:16:

  • Uma: “That afternoon, many people came to Yesus, carrying their friends or relatives who were sick, or who were possessed [ridden] by demons. Yesus caused-to-go-out those demons with just one of his words, and he healed all the people who were sick.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When the sun had set the people brought many people possessed by demons to Isa. He drove the demons out just through his command. And he healed all the sick people.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And that afternoon many people came to visit Jesus bringing with them many who were afflicted with demons. And Jesus treated them by only speaking, and they were cured. And he also treated all who were sick and they got well.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When the sun had set (lit. gone-out-of-sight), the inhabitants brought to Jesus many who were possessed by evil-spirits and who were sick. And he caused-the evil-spirits -to-leave with his word only while-simultaneously he also healed all who were sick.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “At sunset, many were brought to Jesus who were possessed by evil spirits. Jesus drove out all those evil spirits. And as for those brought to him who were sick, he healed them all.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When it was evening, there where Jesus was many people who walked with evil spirits were brought for him to heal them. But Jesus only had to say that the people with evil spirits would be healed and at once they were. All the different kinds of sickness were suffered by the people, but he healed all of them” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 8:16

Evening marks the beginning of a new day for the Jewish people. In the context of the story in Mark’s Gospel, it serves the function of bringing the Sabbath to a close. Matthew does not indicate that it was a Sabbath on which Jesus performed these healings. Translators can use either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation as a model, or put “In the evening” as long as it meant that evening, not just any evening in general. It can also possibly be “After sunset.”

They brought is translated “people brought” in Good News Translation. Since no antecedent is indicated in the context, it is more natural in English to use a noun (“people”) than a pronoun (they). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch makes a similar alteration, employing a singular form (“one brought”) which is the natural German idiom for such a context. Some languages will need “some people brought.”

Similarly, many may be “many people.”

Possessed with demons translates a Greek participle. The meaning is “under the power of demons.” New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate “who were possessed by devils.” Possessed with demons should be translated in exactly the same way as the phrase in 4.24. Demons and “evil spirits” are generally translated in the same way. And “possessed by,” “under the power of,” or “had” are all ways of referring to the one phenomenon of spirit possession.

Cast out is the same verb used of the casting out of demons in 7.22; in its passive form it is used in 8.12, where Revised Standard Version translates “will be thrown.”

Spirits are qualified by Good News Translation as “evil spirits.” These are the same beings referred to earlier in the verse as demons, and it is important that the reader recognize this. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders “As evening came, they brought Jesus many people who were possessed. Through the power of his word he cast out the evil spirits….”

With a word is translated “Through the power of his word” by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (see above paragraph). Other ways to handle this would be “he threw out the evil spirits by commanding them (to go),” “he commanded the spirits to leave and they did,” or “he threw the spirits out by telling them, ‘Go out.’ ”

In the ancient world illnesses were frequently attributed to the power of demons and evil spirits. But the people who were sick are here distinguished from those who were possessed by demons. Most translations are careful to mark them out as two separate and distinct groups.

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 .