hair shaved

The Greek in 2 Corinthians 11:6 that is translated as “hair shaved” in English is translated in Elhomwe as “shave up the skin.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

knowledge

The Greek that is translated as “knowledge” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as “theology” in these verses. The translators explain: “We have often translated the Greek word gnosis with ‘theology’ because it doesn’t refer to knowledge [Erkenntnis, also meaning ‘realization’] but to theological knowledge.”

See also wisdom.

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Cor. 11:6)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the addressee).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 11:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 11:6:

  • Uma: “For though I don’t know how to speak very well, but neither am I a stupid person-e’ [The enclitic -e’ is like an exclamation point, and perhaps could be translated as ‘listen up!’ or ‘Watch out, I mean business’]. I know true teaching. You heard and saw this yourselves in all our (excl.) actions/behavior with you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Perhaps I am not an expert in speaking, but I really know all the true teaching. And I have always made this clear to you because of all my teaching.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because even though I do not know how to talk, I know what the true doctrine is. And this is what we taught you long ago at all times and in every way.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I am admittedly not skilled in speaking, but I am definitely not lacking in what I know about God. You know that is true, because I have continually been showing it to you in all that I have taught.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Admittedly it could be said that I am not skilled in speaking, but I really thoroughly understand what I am teaching. Did I not cause you to comprehend this on more than just one occasion?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Even though people say that I do not know how to make my words sound beautiful when I speak, yet I know very well about the matters which I teach. Concerning this, you have heard very well about all the words I have spoken in my teaching.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

Macedonia

The name that is transliterated as “Macedonia” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that shows pillars, a hallmark of the architecture used there in the Roman period and also prominently used today at Archaeological Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia (see here ). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Macedonia” in Libras (source )

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Macedonia (source: Bible Lands 2012)

More information about Macedonia (Greece) .

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

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

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:6

Unskilled in speaking: the word unskilled means “untrained” (New Revised Standard Version). Paul was not an expert in this area. In speaking refers specifically to “public speaking” (Anchor Bible). The meaning is clearly expressed in God’s New Covenant, “Granted that I lack skill as an orator.” Or a better model in some languages may be “It is true that I do not speak well before crowds [or, other people].” See comments on 10.10.

Not in knowledge: the translation of these words will depend to some extent on the way the first part of this verse has been rendered. But in many cases a verbal expression will be called for: “I may not speak as well as they do, but I know as much as they do” or “my knowledge is not inferior to theirs, even if my public speaking is.”

In every way and in all things: according to both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, Paul has made plain his knowledge in every way and in all things to the Corinthians. Another interpretation is possible, however. The words in all things may be masculine, that is, “among all men.” If this second interpretation is followed, the sense of 11.6b is that expressed in God’s New Covenant: “And that is a fact which we have made evident in every way among men, wherever they may be, through what we are in our relations with you.”

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 .