TRANSLATION NOTES:
THIS GOSSARY DOESN’T AIM FOR THE “RIGHT” WORD, BUT RATHER THE MOST UNDERSTANDABLE WORD(S).
The point here is to clarify words and phrases that sound “spiritual”, but no longer sound like our daily conversations. Typically, words that carry only “spiritual” meaning are used by religious experts to protect their superiority. This demand to be the source of truth is typically a big flashing warning sign for idolatry (which the ones being idolized will fight as heresy)… when all along it’s merely a struggle for societal power.
Bible Dictionary
- “As“ is replaced with “like“, because like is our common term to compare (without sounding pretentious).
- “ascending and descending” is accurate, but no one I know describes a roller coaster as ascending and descending except professionals trying to impress each other with their knowledge and command of the language. People today say, “goes up and down“. Let me know if I’m off base.
- “at hand” is replaced with “now” or “here and now”
- “Baptizing” is a bible/Jewish word for “washing”. It was a type of religious washing which carries no modern equivalent, so “washing” is the most understandable articulation. Still physical baptizing is still an action across most every brand of Christian community, so baptizing was left.
- “Blaspheme” is replaced with “accuse with lies,” because that’s my best guess. I know it is a word no one uses in my culture, except to separate themselves as an expert. That is a useless word. This word is also vital, because it is central to where Jesus describes what excludes us from heaven… big deal. Strongs #G988 – blasph?mia – Root Word (Etymology): From ????????? (G989) Outline of Biblical Usage: 1) slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another’s good name, or 2) impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty. KJV Translation Count: 19x, with (Strongs G988) used as: blasphemy (16x), railing (2x), evil speaking (1x).
- “Bless” – to wish good or mercy for or on others.
- “changers of money” is replaced with vendors, because I know what those look like, and picture changers of money as the cages at a casino
- “Christ” is Greek for “Chosen One“. It is true that the actual term is “Anointed One”, but to anoint means to smear or wipe… which anymore is a bio-hazard. This individual was anointed because that way the method with which designation was communicated – washed with oil. This action signified what King Arthur’s sword pulled out of the stone signified; a choosing of that individual.
- “coming down on [him]” culturally paraphrased with “landing on [him]”.
- “Confesses” Strongs g3670 “homologeo” is confusing because I don’t know how to confess a friend or family member. Unless I’m involved in a crime, confess is not a common word. However, this word also means, “identifies as agreeing with” – this is something that I do all the time & makes a ton more sense. With all these translations – why do we confuse these words?
- After culturally paraphrasing the “sending of the 12” the term confesses, seems to be best articulated as “sides with.” Language is a work in progress.
- “Curse” – to wish harm or accusation for or on others.
- “Demons” is replaced with “evil spirits.”
- “disciple” is a “follower“
- “even so” culturally paraphrased as “in the same way“. In this setting the sentence is also arranged… less Yoda.
- “for my sake” is replaced with “because of me” – it is common conversationally… and “for my sake” is not.
- “gentile” is a subjective word, and almost every culture has them. The Jew’s use of Gentile is closer to today’s Mexican terminology of “Gringo.” This doesn’t designate a certain type of outsider, as much as anyone who is not Mexican. Gentile wasn’t reserved for certain people outsider, but all who are not God’s people. Gentiles are typically outsiders.
- “heaven” refers to the construct and government of Eternity, as well as what we call the biological sky. All three are expected to be used as clarity allows.
- “hour comes” is replaced with a more commonly spoken “time is coming”
- “Jesus” is Greek for “Joshua”. His name (and it’s meaning) is a central theme across all Jesus’ teaching, but in order for the story to flow with understanding… Jesus was used rather than Joshua (even though Jesus is the Greek translation of Joshua. Clarity, rather than correctness, is the goal.
- God’s “kingdom” is God’s “standard” or “perspective”.As an identity, this would be “citizenship.” My people live with the concept of Kingdom meaning only a type of government or power expressed by the one in charge. The ruling Kingdom in this day consisted of one person’s perspective (and everyone under the king’s rule lived by his perspective, or could be killed). It was the King’s land that everyone was using, and all his citizen’s were his servants to command. That type of all encompassing authority over everyone’s experience is best culturally termed as a combination of “Power”, “Authority”, “Government”, “Standard” and/or “Perspective”. All that said, Kingdom is understood, and is the most accurate description of the realm of God’s Authority we all live within.
- “Leper” is a word that makes perfect sense to us, but is still not completely accurate. Our lepers today (per Google search) will show us certain skin mal-formations which look painful, and so we identify with the possibility of experiencing that pain. However, in that day, being a leper was more all-encompassing. There was more than a stigmatization, and ostracized life – there appeared (from all writings and history) a direct condemnation from God that you are cursed, and it all happened outside of your will. This can be an outsider, or outcast, but to combine the physical decay – starting at Jesus sending the 12, aim to use “decomposing” to represent a modern understanding of “leper.”
- “Lord” is not used in my culture. As a noun, it is someone having power… so “Powerful-One” is used. It makes it difficult, because it is so commonly used in my religions scripture. I think the best word to replace it is “leader”. Originally it was replaced with “Authority”, but the central statement of, “Jesus is Lord” wouldn’t make sense. Our society doesn’t have aristocracy, so Lord is unable to be given context required for definition
- “Most Certainly“ is the phrase used in this translation, but other versions use, “Verily, verily”, “Very Truly”, “Most assuredly”, etc.. The use of a repeated word used here would probably best be translated as “Amen, amen”, but since this word marks our modern Pharisaical trumpet (at the end of our prayers), it also is not an culturally understandable term. Amen is a confirmation of truth, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. This Spirit was in Joshua after his baptism, and was planted here (through Joshua’s death), and now lives inside each of his followers. “Truth’s truth” is the cultural paraphrase used in this story. Feel free to look up Strongs #g281 (link to Blue Letter Bible)
- “of that which“ is culturally paraphrased to “about what“. Strongs #g3739 (link to Blue Letter Bible)
- “one cannot“ culturally paraphrased to “no one can“.”
- “one in charge“ is a cultural paraphrase of “master of the house“
- “Parable” is a “figurative story.” Considering the difficulty with which we separate figurative and literal words in the Bible, the least we can do it replace the word for figurative story. Parable means figurative story… so that’s what’s used in this story.
- “Persecute“ is a term reserved for those without country or home. This word is uncommon in my conversations. Another point of translation is that we live in an incredibly letigious society (we sue everyone). Therefore, we have a couple other words that we associate with persecution… as our late night injury attorney commercials will attest to. Starting at the Sending of the 12, we’re using “harass, annoy and victimize” (as often as applicable)… it give more clarity.
- “place of business” culturally rephrased as “storefront“
- “Man” historically identified both male gender (as compared to female), and general humankind/mankind. Human is used for clarity sake.
- “receive our witness“ culturally paraphrased as “believe us“. Not only would no one talk that way today (outside of a courtroom), but even though it reduces the number of words – it will be universally used in this story when these three words are in this order. The root words of this phrase are: Strongs #g2983 meaning “receive”, “take”, “have”, or “catch”, Strongs #g1473 references “ego” meaning “me”, or “myself”, and Strongs #3141 meaning “witness”, “testimony”, “record”, or “report”. These three words are used in our culture as “believe us”.
- “To Receive” is also used in a formal sense of being received as an ambassador or foreign dignatary (such as when Jesus sent out the 12). This is commonly termed, “to let in”
- “Repent” is replaced with “turn from wrong”
- “Sabbath” is replaced with “God’s Day”.
- “Satan” is “The Accuser“
- “Scourge” is only related to a contemporary movie about rewarding the violent for holding this violence in their hearts, and murder. So, Scourge is replaced with, “physically harm”
- “Scribe” is closest to a “public servant“, but also relates to theologian… depending on circumstance.
- “should not” is culturally paraphrased as “does not have to“… and the following “have” becomes “has” (in both usages) View a few versions side by side, and check out the three words to make this phrase: Strongs #g622, then Strongs #g3363, and finally Strongs #g622 (yes the first and last word of this phrase are the same).
- “Take up” is replaced with “pick up”
- “teacher of Israel” culturally paraphrased using English’s grammatical process as “Israel’s teacher“.
- “that“ is replaced with “because“, because the end of this sentence isn’t, “that it was most grammatically correct”, but rather “because it should be clearly understandable”.
- “that“ is replaced with a semi-colon (“;”). It seems that getting rid of that “that” is the purpose of something like a semi-colon. It’s even spelled like an afterthought. It seems; semi-colons add clarity (too much? maybe).
- “their works“ is culturally paraphrased with “what they do“. I hear my culture talk about our work… but never “their works” (outside of religion). This is something that we can’t define (with complete certainty), but “what we do” is clearly visible to all (in ourselves and others).
- “underneath” is replaced with “under“. It may be proper English, but nobody talks that way. “Hey mom, where’s the clearer.” “It’s under the sink”… or “my young-ling, it is underneath the water-faucet and wash-pan in the kitchen.” Ya, we’re going with “under” here.
- “well” is replaced with “very“. There is no one I know who uses well in this way. We have multiple replacements for “well” pleased, but “well” isn’t one we use. Very’s the most common, and so it was used first.
- “who says to you” is replaced with “saying”
- “Woman” is certainly the most accurate word, but any female I address (today) as woman would be greatly offended. It would be a statement of subjection to a Male’s authority. “Ma’am” is likely a societal equivalent.
- “zeal” is a beautiful word, and undervalued in our culture. So undervalued, that it doesn’t carry clarity required to appreciate the value of zeal. However, the deepest emotion our culture appreciates is “passion” – so that is closest for this purpose.
Much of the ancient language research was completed on biblegateway.com, blueletterbible.org and decades of searching.