complete verse (2 Corinthians 11:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 11:16:

  • Uma: “So, like I said earlier, even though it is like I am acting stupid now, please give-me-opportunity to praise myself a while. Don’t think/say that I am really stupid, but if some do say that I am stupid, let me praise myself just a little while.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Let me repeat what I said in the beginning, don’t think that I am stupid/bad/foolish because of my words. But if that is what you think, na, never mind if only you just listen a little to my boasting.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I will say again that it’s necessary that no one think that I am stupid because of my words to you. However, even if you think I’m stupid, endure listening so that I might boast for a short while.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I say again that you shouldn’t think I am foolish because it’s myself I am talking-about. But even though such is your opinion of me, listen anyway to this little that I boast-about, for you have certainly listened to what others have been boasting.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I will repeat what I said, you should not think that I am stupid because of my boasting about myself. But even supposing that is what you suspect, accept and think about this that I am saying, like you do for those others you listen to.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And now again I want to tell you that you must not think I have lost my mind because I tell you about myself. But if that is what you do think, that I have lost my mind, then give me permission to speak, telling a little bit about myself. Because those teachers who are against me brag about themselves.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Japanese benefactives (-naide)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, -naide (ないで) or “do not (for their sake)” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Japanese benefactives (irete)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, irete (入れて) or “put in” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:16

This verse must be seen in the overall context of Paul’s irony. But the logic may still be difficult to follow. Paul says first that he does not want to be taken for a fool and then speaks of actually being taken as a fool. His intention seems to be that, although he does not want to be considered a fool, on second thought to be accepted as a fool would have the advantage of allowing him to act in a foolish way and boast to a certain degree.

I repeat looks back to 11.1. In some languages the verb repeat will be out of place because of so much discourse between the first statement and this one. In such cases one may say “As I said earlier…” or “I have already said it, but I will say it again.”

If you do: that is, if you do think I am foolish. Paul is asking that the Corinthians give him a hearing even if they do think he is being foolish. The idea here is “even if you see me as a fool, accept me…” or “at least treat me as you would a fool and tolerate my boasting.”

Foolish … fool: see comments on 2 Cor. 11.1.

The implication of the words I too … are that Paul’s opponents in Corinth, the false apostles, were boasting. Good News Translation fails to preserve this aspect of meaning. Revised English Bible says “and let me have my little boast like others” (see 11.18). In those languages that require some kind of object for the verb boast, it may be necessary to say “boast of myself” or something similar.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 11:16

Section 11:16–33

Paul suffered for serving Jesus

11:16a I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool.

I say again: Let no one think that I am a fool.
-or-
⌊What I said to you before,⌋ I now say to you (plur.) again, please do not believe I am a fool.

11:16b But if you do,

But if otherwise,
-or-
But if you do ⌊think that I am a foolish person⌋,

11:16c then receive me as a fool,

at least accept me as a fool, (Good News Translation)
-or-
accept me as you would accept a fool. (New Century Version)

11:16d so that I too may boast a little.

in order that I also can boast a little bit.
-or-
Then I can brag a little, too. (New Century Version)

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