In want refers in this context specifically to material needs such as food, money, and clothing. The term used here is related to the one for “wants” in 9.12, which is also the same word that is rendered needs later in this verse. Possibly financial needs are primary here, as Good News Translation makes explicit, “when I needed money.” But it may be best to use a more general word as in Greek. See for example New International Version, “when I … needed something.” Another version speaks of “my necessities.” And New Revised Standard Version uses the English idiom “if I ran short.” In other languages people may use verbs like “be lacking” or simply “want.” Still others may have more unusual expressions like “have an empty sack” or “lose one’s purse [or, money pouch].”
I did not burden any one: that is, Paul did not burden anyone among the Corinthian Christians. The same verb is used again in 12.13 and 14 but nowhere else in the New Testament. This idea may be expressed in a variety of ways: “I never asked you for anything at all,” “I was no encumbrance to anybody” (Moffatt), “I didn’t bother you” (Contemporary English Version).
The brethren who came from Macedonia: some languages will need to use a possessive pronoun with the word brethren: either “my brothers” or “our [not including the readers] brothers.” It is not clear whether these brothers were Paul’s co-workers Timothy and Silas (see Acts 18.5) or, less likely, whether they were Macedonian Christians. If the “brothers” were Christians from the churches in Macedonia, then women were perhaps included. In order not to exclude the possibility that women were included, New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible say “friends who came from Macedonia” and “friends from Macedonia.” Neither New Revised Standard Version nor Revised English Bible is satisfactory, however, since neither translation would normally be understood to refer to Paul’s co-workers. Perhaps a literal translation “the brothers” is preferable. Contemporary English Version has “some of the Lord’s followers.”
On Macedonia see 1.16 and 2.13.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .