Apropos of Eskimo, I once heard a missionary describe the…
““Apropos of Eskimo, I once heard a missionary describe the extraordinary difficulty he had found in translating the Bible into Eskimo. It was useless to talk of corn or wine to a people who did not know even what they meant, so he had to use equivalents within their powers of comprehension. Thus in the Eskimo version of the Scriptures the miracle of Cana of Galilee is described as turning the water into blubber; the 8th verse of the 5th chapter of the First Epistle of St. Peter ran: ‘Your adversary the devil, as a roaring Polar bear walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’ In the same way ‘A land flowing with milk and honey’ became ‘A land flowing with whale’s blubber,’ and throughout the New Testament the words ‘Lamb of God’ had to be translated ‘little Seal of God,’ as the nearest possible equivalent. The missionary added that his converts had the lowest opinion of Jonah for not having utilised his exceptional opportunities by killing and eating the whale.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Translating concepts requires culturally relevant equivalents; literal translation can produce absurd or misleading meanings.
In simple terms: Use familiar ideas when explaining unfamiliar concepts.
Key Takeaway
Adapt messages to the audience’s worldview.
Themes
translation
culture
communication
misinterpretation
religion
Mood
humorous
critical
Type
Bible:1
Creation myths:1
Culture:1
Eskimo:1
Funny:1
Humor:1
New testament:1
Polar-bear:1
St peter:1
Whales:1
Polar Bear:1
Bible Eskimo:1
Comprehension Eskimo:1
Eskimo Version:1
God Translated:1
Scriptures Miracle:1
When to use this quote
- missionary work
- cross‑cultural education
- global marketing
Key Concepts
linguistics
anthropology
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance fidelity and relevance in translation?
- What are risks of using analogies that mislead?
A Different Perspective
Over‑simplification may distort original intent.