complete verse (1 Corinthians 16:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 16:4:

  • Uma: “And if you think it good, I’ll go with them.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If I think that I should also go to Awrusalam, na, we (excl.) can go together.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If it’s necessary at that time that I also go to Jerusalem, they can go with me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if however it would be preferable that I go there (far from both speaker and addressee), they might as well (lit. even if) go-with me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But if it turns out that I need to be the one to take it, I will take them along too.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “If it appears that also I can go, then we will all go together, those men who will be going.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:4

If it seems advisable: most commentators and translators understand the text to mean “worthwhile” (Good News Bible); “If it seems worthwhile,” or “If it is proper” or “… a good thing.”

They will accompany me: the text says nothing about who would be the most important member of the party. The literal translation, which in this case also gives the meaning, is “If it seems proper for me to travel too, they will travel with me.”

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 .

Sung version of 1 Corinthians 16

Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).

For more information, see here .