he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 1:31:

  • Uma: “So, as is written in the Holy Book: ‘Whoever wants to boast [lit., have a big heart], they must boast in what the Lord has done.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore it is as it says in the holy-book, it says, ‘Whoever wants to boast, he ought to boast about what God has done.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And because of this, it’s very true which was written in the Word of God long time ago which said, ‘If there is a person who wants to boast, it’s necessary that he only boast about what the Lord has done.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore let us follow what God caused-to-be-written which says, ‘If there is someone who wants to boast-about whatever, he ought to boast-about what the Lord has done.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, just like it says there in the writings, ‘Whoever wants to boast, it would be good if he boasts about God.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Thus it is apparent why the word is written in the Holy Book which says, ‘He who wants to boast, but he should praise the Lord in heaven, not that he praise himself’ it says.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:31

This verse is awkward and even meaningless when it is translated literally: “in order that as it is written, ‘Let he who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ ” As we suggested in the comments on verse 27, the Greek probably expresses result rather than purpose, like “so that” at the beginning of verse 29. An expanded restructuring would be “So now, as a result of all God has done for us in Christ [verse 29], we know what the scripture means when it says, ‘If anyone is going to boast, let him boast in the Lord.’ ” “In the Lord” probably means “of what the Lord has done” (Good News Bible), though the text in its Old Testament setting means literally “in God.”

For comments on it is written, see verse 19.

The previous verse has emphasized that God is the source of all that Christ has become for Christians, and of the Lord (Good News Bible “of what the Lord has done”) may mean “what God has done in Christ.” Similarly, the quotation may mean for Paul, “If anyone is going to boast, let it be about how God has changed him through Christ” (compare verse 30a).

In this verse, unlike verse 29, the word for boast has a good meaning. The corresponding Hebrew word appearing in Jer 9.24 is often used in praising God. In languages where it is necessary to use different expressions for (a) showing happiness openly with words, and (b) claiming to be superior to someone else, a translator should choose (a) here. In such cases it may be helpful to add a footnote that states that in Greek, the same verb is used in verse 29 and 31. In verse 31 the meaning that Paul gives to the Old Testament text is probably “Whoever wants to say why he is happy must say it is because Christ has made his life so much better than it was before.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Corinthians 1:31

1:31a Therefore, as it is written:

So the Scriptures say:
-or-
As a result ⌊we (incl.) should do⌋ what is written in God’s Book:
-or-
Thus ⌊we should do⌋ as ⌊a prophet⌋ wrote in God’s book:

1:31b “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

“If someone boasts, he should only boast about the Lord.”
-or-
“People should not brag about anything except what the Lord/Christ has done for them.”
-or-
The only thing that someone can truthfully boast/brag about is how Christ/the Lord saved him/her ⌊from eternal death⌋.

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