Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 9:11:
- Uma: “When Ribka was about to give birth, God said to her: ‘Your (sing.) firstborn will submit to his younger-sibling.’ At the time of those words, those two children were not yet born, and they had not yet done anything good or evil. But it was at that time God made-certain ahead of time which one he chose to get his blessing. God’s purpose in doing like that was so we would clearly see: if God chooses people to receive his blessing, he does not choose them because of their behavior. He chooses them because of his own decision.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Before those twin children of hers were born, God said to Rebeka, ‘The younger will rule over the older.’ When God said that, the twins had not yet done good or bad because they were not yet born. But God chose one beforehand so that it is known that it is from his will/wish when he chooses someone. The reason God chooses a person is not because of his deeds which are good but by the will/wish of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for Rebecca, when she was about to give birth God said to her, he said, ‘The older one will be a servant of his younger sibling.’ He said this before those twins were born and before they had done either good or evil. And the reason this took place was because God was teaching that when He chooses people, it’s not because of their good works but rather because He just wants to.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Because before those two were born and they had as yet done nothing good or bad, God said to Rebecca, ‘The one who precedes will serve the one who comes-last.’ God said that so it would be known that his choice of the one was not based on what the two of them had done but rather on whom he had originally decided to call.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “But before these children were born God told Rebecca that Esau would be born first. Then Jacob, the younger one would rule his brother. This is what is written in the Holy Book about what God said. He said: ‘I love Jacob, but concerning Esau, I do not love him.’ This is the word God spoke before the children were born. He didn’t wait until the children were born in order that it be seen which one lived good and which one lived bad. Therefore it is apparent here that God from the beginning has determined what will come to pass. It isn’t that he first saw how the children turned out, rather that what he determined to choose, that is what came to be.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)