#wycliffewednesday #sigosherts
The Mbe translators, from Nigeria, were working on the book of Luke. They came to chapter 2 verse 7 which says: “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
As they began to translate the verse, thinking and pondering as they went, they came to “manger” and quickly chose the word “ókpáng”. The consultant for the project asked them what “ókpáng” meant and what it looked like. One of the translators drew it for him to see. It was essentially a basket hung from ropes so an infant could be rocked when placed in it. The translator than suggested that they check the collection of notes and commentaries available to them. One of the translators saw that a manger referred to a feeding trough for animals.
At first the translation team objected giving tradition as their reason. They had called the manger “ókpáng” for years. As the consultant talked with them he pointed out that good translations express the original meaning as accurately as possible, not just siding with tradition. He also pointed out the profoundness of the original meaning of manger and what it told them about God. He said, “When he came to live among us and bring salvation to us, he came in the lowliest way possible. He did not come and sleep in a nice ókpáng like every Mbe mother wants for her newborn. Instead, he showed us his unbelievable humility. So we need to find your best word for an animal-feeding trough.”
Then a new term was offered: “édzábri”. One of the translators said, “We feed our animals out of an old worn-out basket that isn’t usable anymore, except to feed the animals.” As the translation team pondered the verse with the new word, envisioning the newborn savior placed in an animal’s feeding basket, they understood in a new way what Jesus had done for them. And just like that, God’s word impacted them because it was in their own language. A language that spoke to their hearts.
