complete verse (2 Corinthians 11:30)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 11:30:

  • Uma: “If I must praise myself, I will praise myself recounting all my weaknesses.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I don’t want to boast, but if I have to boast, I only boast about the difficulties that I experienced so that you know that I have no strength/power.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I don’t want to boast, but if necessary for me to boast, I will boast about the hard things I have passed through, because by means of this you will know that I really lack in skill.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I dislike boasting-about myself, but if I have to do that, I will boast-about what shows my weakness.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But if I need to boast, this is truly what I will boast of, the things that cause to be comprehended that, of my own self, I have no ability.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It is necessary that I tell you about myself, but it is only that I want to tell you about myself so that it will be apparent that I am not strong.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:30

If does not mean that Paul has any doubt. The Greek may be translated as “Since I must boast” or “Since I have to lift myself up [or, show myself].” Or it may be possible to translate “If I am forced to boast…” or “Whenever I have to boast….”

The future tense I will boast does not mean that Paul only now will begin to boast, but that he plans to boast in the following manner. What follows in this verse is a summary statement of the kinds of things that he plans to boast about whenever he must.

My weakness: the term used here is found in Rom 8.26 and 1 Cor 2.3. It occurs again in this letter at 12.9 and 13.4. In some languages it may be more naturally translated by a verbal expression such as “that I lack strength.”

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 11:30

11:30a If I must boast,

If it is necessary for me to boast,
-or-
Whenever I have to boast ⌊about myself⌋,

11:30b I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

I will boast about the events that show that I am weak.
-or-
I will boast about the ways in which I am weak.

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