lion

There are no lions in Bawm country, so the Bawm Chin translation uses “a tiger with a mane” where the Greek term for “lion” is used and in Sranan Tongo the “roaring lion” in 1 Peter 5:8 is a krasi tigri, an “aggressive tiger.”

In the Kahua culture, lions are not known either so the Kahua translation used “fierce animal.”

In 1 Peter 5:8, the Uripiv translation uses “a hungry shark” instead of a roaring lion.

Sources: David Clark for Bawm Chin and Kahua, Japini 2015, p. 33, for Sranan Tongo, and Ross McKerras for Uripiv)

complete verse (Revelation 10:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Revelation 10:3:

  • Uma: “That angel shouted like the roar of a lion. When he had finished shouting, the seven thunders also sounded with a loud sound, speaking like men.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then he called loudly and his voice was like the loud/strong sounding of a lion. When he had called, he was answered by seven loud rolling-thunders.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He called out loudly, and his voice was like the roaring of lions. And when he called, seven very loud thunderclaps answered.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “He shouted like the loud (lit. strong) roar/growl of a lion, and seven thunders roared (different word) in reply.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “He called out, his voice being like the roaring of a leon. After he had called out, it was like he was answered by thunder because it thundered seven times, like it was speaking.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I heard him speak loudly, like a ferocious animal when it roars. After shouting out, I heard seven thunders thunder.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Revelation 10:3

Called out with a loud voice: the text does not say what the angel said; it may be that this shout is to get attention for the message that is about to come from heaven (verses 4-7).

Like a lion roaring: not only loud, but also frightening. God’s voice is compared to the roar of a lion in Hosea 11.10 (see also Amos 3.8). On the translation of lion see 4.7.

The seven thunders sounded: this is a definite number, but there is no reference in biblical or Bible-related literature to seven thunders as such. As elsewhere, the number indicates completion, totality. In John 12.28-29, to some people God’s voice from heaven sounds like thunder. Other instances of thunder in Revelation precede God’s acts of judgment (8.5; 11.19; 16.18). In certain languages this clause will be expressed as “There was the sound of thunder answering seven times,” “there was thunder seven times in reply,” or “the sky roared seven times in reply.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .