On Palm Sunday, Christians around the world mark Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem with palm branches, songs and quiet reflection. Beyond the symbolism, however, lies a broader Christian journey, one carried not only across geography but also across language, interpretation and culture.

That journey is at the centre of a study by Rev Prof. Jonathan Edward Tetteh Kuwornu-Adjaottor of the Department of Religion and Human Development at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), which examines how a key biblical word, baptizontes, in Matthew 28:19–20 has been translated in Ghanaian mother-tongue Bibles.

Often rendered in English as “baptising,” the term appears straightforward. But the study, published in HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, shows that its meaning shifts significantly across languages, with implications for how baptism is understood and practised.

At its core, the research asks what happens when a word central to Christian identity and mission enters new linguistic worlds. In its original Greek context, baptizontes denotes “to dip” or “to immerse.” Yet across Ghanaian languages, that meaning is interpreted in markedly different ways.

Analysing 12 Ghanaian translations of Matthew 28:19–20, the study finds that the term has been rendered into at least six distinct meaning categories, shaped by linguistic choices and cultural context.

In some southern Ghanaian languages, including Dangme and Ga, baptizontes is translated as “pray for them.” The study describes this as a significant departure from the original Greek sense, noting that while prayer may accompany baptism, it is not equivalent to it.

In Ewe, the phrase is rendered as placing “God’s water” on the head. Researchers say this reflects a theological understanding of baptism as consecration, where ordinary water becomes sacred through prayer, and aligns more closely with the practice of sprinkling.

In Akan translations, including Asante-Twi and Akuapem-Twi, the wording suggests “throwing water” on a person. The study links this to indigenous practices in which water is used symbolically in healing and renewal rituals, marking a transition into a new state of life.

By contrast, the Mfantse translation uses a phrase meaning “dip them,” closely reflecting the original Greek sense of immersion and aligning with early Christian practice.

Northern Ghanaian translations show further variation. In languages such as Konkomba and others, the term is rendered as “put them deep in water,” reinforcing immersion. In Hanga, Gonja and related languages, it is translated as “bathe them,” suggesting ritual washing, sometimes explicitly with water.

In Dagbani, translators adopted a coined term, “baptizibu,” derived from “baptism,” reflecting the absence of a direct equivalent. The study notes that in practice, churches often use expressions linked to ritual washing, influenced partly by Islamic purification practices in the region.

Researchers say these variations show that translation is not a neutral or purely linguistic exercise but an interpretive one. “Prayer and baptism are two different activities,” the study notes, warning that some renderings risk altering the intended meaning of the biblical text.

The findings also highlight that most Ghanaian translations render baptizontes, originally a Greek participle, as an imperative, subtly shifting its grammatical force within the text.

In Ghana, where scripture is encountered through reading, preaching, singing and communal worship in local languages, such differences have practical implications. Language does not simply transmit doctrine, it frames how it is understood and lived.

The study suggests that translators often draw on religio-cultural concepts familiar to local audiences, including purification, initiation and communal belonging. While this approach enhances accessibility, it can also introduce new layers of meaning that differ from the original text.

The study concludes that no translation is entirely complete or final. Rather, each reflects an attempt to make the Christian message meaningful within a specific cultural and linguistic context.

As palm branches are lifted in remembrance, that journey continues across words, cultures and meanings.