Start by entering a Bible verse here and select Find Verse
Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!
Source: Montgomery 1924
Montgomery, Helen Barrett. The New Testament in Modern English. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1924 (reprinted in 1988 by Holman Bible Publishers).
Translation approach: formal equivalence with specific attention to passages concerning the role of women
Translation by committee or single individual: Helen Barrett Montgomery
Dates of publication and revision(s): 1924
Confession: Protestant
Publisher: American Baptist Publication Society / Judson Press / Holman Bible Publishers
Review: Roger Bullard in The Bible Translator 1987
The Greek that is often translated as “deacon” in English is translated as kavumbi in Chokwe, someone “who serves another, not from compulsion or for a wage, but because of vumbi or grace.” (Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff. )
A number of English translations (Revised Standard Version 1952, Phillips 1958, Jerusalem Bible 1966 and its later revisions, Lattimore 1982, Christian Community Bible 1997, The Orthodox New Testament 2004, and New Catholic Bible 2019) use the feminine form deaconess in Romans 16:1. This can also be found in some French translations (La Bible Du Semeur 1992, Louis Segond 1910, La Bible de Communautés Chrétiennes 1994, and Nouvelle Edition de Genève) as well as the majority of Spanish, Italian, and German versions (French: diaconesse, Spanish: diaconisa, Italian: diaconessa, German: Diakonisse).
One French translation (La Bible Du Semeur), the English translation by Helen Barrett Montgomery (1924), and a couple of German translations (BasisBibel 2021 and Gute Nachricht Bibel 1968 / 2018) also use the feminine form of deacon in 1 Timothy 3:11 (for a discussion on this, see Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 3:11).
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 14:34:
Uma: “So, your women/wives must be quiet in the services. They are not permitted to be talking like that, they must submit as is written in the Law of the Lord.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “the women shall be quiet while they are in the gathering. They cannot take part in the arguments with the men because the holy-book says that it is not possible for a woman to cause-herself-to-be-higher than a man.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There’s also a command I have for you which is what the believers in every town do; it is this: don’t you permit that a woman teach when you gather together to worship. They should just listen, because the Law of the Jews teaches that women should not be in charge.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Because what God wants/likes is not what-is-disorderly but rather what is orderly/harmonious. Women ought to be quiet when you meet-as-a-congregation as they also do in the other congregations of God’s people. It is not permitted that they speak but rather they must submit-themselves to (lit. cause-themselves-to-be-ruled-by) the men just like it is written in God’s law.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Well, just as is being followed/obeyed by all the people of God, it’s necessary that the women don’t speak (lit. make a noise) for they are not allowed to speak when the-whole-group is gathered together to worship. For like what was said in the laws, they are under the jurisdiction of the man.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “That is, the women are not allowed to speak where the believers are gathered. Because the women do not have permission to explain the word to the people. Rather the men must be the leaders just like the law of God says.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Burmese (translation by A. Judson, first publ. in 1823, still the most widely-used translation in Myanmar): “The wife of yours should stay silent in the . They have no permission to preach. As the law commanded they must consent to the ruling of man.” (Source: Hluan 2022, p. 82ff. — see there also for a detailed analysis of Judson’s translation.)
English translation by Helen Barrett Montgomery (1924) (verses 34-36): “‘In your congregation’ [you write], ‘as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. On the contrary let them be subordinate, as also says the law. And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.’ What, was it from you that the word of God went forth, or to you only did it come?”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 14:35:
Uma: “If they want to know anything, they should ask it of their husbands at home, for it isn’t fitting if women are continually talking like that in the services.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “If they want to ask something, let them ask their husbands when they arrive at home. It is not fitting/right for a woman to speak in a gathering of the ones trusting in Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If a woman has a question, she should not ask it there in the house where they are gathered, but rather she should ask her husband when they return home; because it’s shameful activity for a woman to speak when the believers are gathered together.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “If there is that which they want to ask, they should wait until they go-home so that they will then inquire of their husbands, because it is improper if women speak when you meet-as-a-congregation.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “If they have a question, they should just ask their husbands when they get home, because if whe speaks in front of everyone who has gathered, it is a disgrace.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “If some woman has a question she wants to ask, then she should ask her husband at home. Because it does not appear well if a woman speaks there where the believers are gathered.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Burmese (translation by A. Judson, first publ. in 1823, still the most widely-used translation in Myanmar): “If women want to learn anything. let them ask their own husbands at home. It is a shameful thing for a woman to preach in the church.” (Source: Hluan 2022, p. 82ff. — see there also for a detailed analysis of Judson’s translation.)
English translation by Helen Barrett Montgomery (1924) (verses 34-36): “‘In your congregation’ [you write], ‘as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. On the contrary let them be subordinate, as also says the law. And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.’ What, was it from you that the word of God went forth, or to you only did it come?”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 14:36:
Uma: “Why is it that some of you don’t want to follow these previously mentioned laws? Do you think that you are the first to deliver the Word of God? Or was the Word of God delivered only to you?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Perhaps you don’t believe-obey what I said there. Is it that you people of Korinto think-mistakenly that from you the message of God started/came out? Or do you think-mistakenly that you are the only people the message of God was preached to?” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “You are thinking mistakenly that the word of God has only come from you; and if not that, then perhaps you are thinking mistakenly that you’re the only ones who have been taught the word of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Oh you (expression of rebuke)! Could the word of God possibly have come-from you? Or if that’s not what is in your thoughts, do you perhaps think that only you received his word?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Don’t do-your-own-thing. What’s this, are you the source of this word of God? Or if not, are you the only ones this word of his has come to?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Do not think that you can decide on your own about what you do. Because the word of God did not first come from you, rather only afterwards the word arrived to where you live.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
English translation by Helen Barrett Montgomery (1924) (verses 34-36): “‘In your congregation’ [you write], ‘as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. On the contrary let them be subordinate, as also says the law. And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.’ What, was it from you that the word of God went forth, or to you only did it come?”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 2:15:
Uma: “That’s why women endure suffering in their childbearing. But even so, they will get goodness [often means salvation] if they keep believing in the Lord, keep loving others, and live holy according to good customs.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “But women are saved in their giving-birth-to-(children) if their trust in Isa Almasi is steadfast and if they love their companions and their liver is clean. And their behavior ought to be good.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But inspite of that, women can be freed from punishment just the same by means of bearing children if they not let go of their faith and their holding their companions dear, and doing what God wants them to do, and their arranging properly all of their behavior.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “This is the reason that women are hardshipped in giving-birth, but they will be saved nevertheless provided they continue to believe and to love their companions and follow a holy way-of-life while at the same time they exercise-carefulness/prudence in what they are doing.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “But even though it’s like this now, that women are under the curse of God, they will indeed by saved without mishap when giving birth, provided they hold fast to their belief, value their fellowman and put far away all sin, and live a life of self control.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “But the woman will save her soul if she does the work given her by God in raising children. It is just that she must have faith, love her fellowman, live good. She must not be proud.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Danish (1948): “But she shall be saved through the fulfillment of her call as a mother – if they hold on to faith and love and holiness with respectability.”
Danish (1992): “But she shall be saved through the childbirth – if they hold on to faith and love and holiness with self-control.”
Danish (2020): “But since the woman bears children, she can still be saved, if she lives a decent life and holds on to faith, love and God.” (source for this and two above: Iver Larsen)
English translation by Helen Barrett Montgomery (1924): “Notwithstanding she will be saved by the Child-bearing; (so will they all), if they live in faith and love and holiness, with self-restraint.”
