prophesy

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The Hebrew and the Greek that are translated in English versions as “prophesy” are translated into Anuak as “sing a song” (source: Loren Bliese), into Balanta-Kentohe as “passing on message of God” (source: Rob Koops), and into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that does not only refer to the future, but is “speak on behalf of God” (source: Robert Bascom).

Other translations include: “God making someone to show something in advance” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “God causing someone to think and then say it” (Aguaruna), “speaking God’s thoughts” (Shipibo-Conibo), “God made someone say something” “Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac) (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “proclaim God’s message” (Teutila Cuicatec), “speak for God” (Chichimeca-Jonaz), “preach the Word of God” (Lalana Chinantec), “speak God’s words” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “that which God’s Spirit will cause one to say one will say” (Mayo) (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom), and “bring God’s mouth” (Bariai) (source: Bariai Back Translation).

In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:

  • For Acts 3:18, 3:21, 3:25: nurwowohora — “mouth says words that don’t come from one’s own mind.” (“This term refers to an individual’s speaking words that are not his because either a good or bad spirit is at work through him. The speaker is not in control of himself.”)
  • For Acts 19:6, Acts 21:9: nakotnohora — “talk about.” (“The focus of this term is on telling God’s message for the present as opposed to the future.”)
  • For Acts 21:11: rora — “foretell” (“The focus of this term is giving God’s message concerning the future. The person who speaks is aware of what he is doing and he is using his own mind, yet it is with God’s power that he foretells the future.”)

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

See also prophet and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 14:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 14:24:

  • Uma: “But if all of you speak God’s words and a person who is not a Kristen or who does not-yet know God’s Word enters, when he hears what you all say, it will become clear in his heart that he has sinned. It’s like there is something in his heart that says: ‘That is to me!’ [i.e., those words are meant for me]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But if all of you speak the word of God and a person is coming in there who does not yet believe in Isa Almasi or another person, when he hears the word of God that you speak, he knows that he is sinful and worthy of being punished because God makes known/causes to understand in his liver all the bad things that he has done. Then that person will prostrate and worship God and he will state-that-it-is-true/confess that God is really there among you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But, if what everybody does is, they explain what God had caused them to understand in the word of God, then as for that visitor, by means of what he hears he will understand what God is thinking about his evil-thinking. And he will realize that he is sinful and he will repent. And then he will worship God and he will say, ‘It really is true that you are guided by the power of God!'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if you all are telling what God has made-known to you and you have a visitor who doesn’t believe, his conscience will be struck because of what each one of you is saying and the truth concerning his sins will be shown to him,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But if instead of speaking different languages that can’t be understood, you are relating in a language that everyone understands that which God is making known, is it not so that those who arrived will become aware that they will have to answer to God because they are sinners?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But if those who speak do so with the word God puts on their mind and speak in the words with which the people there speak, then if there should come in a person who is not a believer and doesn’t know about the faith, then he will understand that he has sin by means of the word he hears.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:24

This verse begins as a contrast with verse 23, but is expanded for emphasis toward the end, and the expansion continues in verse 25. These two verses complete the contrast between speaking with tongues and prophecy, which has been announced in verse 22.

The words unbeliever or outsider are used in the opposite order from verse 23 probably for reasons of style. For the meaning of these two words, see the comments on verse 23.

The word translated convicted commonly refers to moral influence on someone’s conscience, rather than to persuasion by argument, as Good News Bible shows by adding “of his sin.” There is little difference in meaning between convicted and called to account. Good News Bible uses the words “convinced” and “judged.” Good News Bible adds “he hears” to make clear what is implicit: the unbeliever or outsider will be listening to the proclaiming of God’s message. What “he hears” will convict or judge him.

The clause he is called to account by all may also be rendered as “all the things that he hears will judge him.” Good News Bible‘s “by what they hear” and “by all they hear” translate the same Greek expression rendered by all twice in Revised Standard Version.

On Good News Bible‘s use of plural forms in this verse, see the introduction to this section. Good News Bible‘s “some” may be unnecessary if plural forms are used.

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 .