vision

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek that is translated as “vision” in English is translated in a variety in the following languages:

  • Chol: “as if in a dream” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Obolo: ilaak ọkpọchieen̄ or “dreaming awake” (source: Enene Enene)
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “a showing like dreams”
  • Desano: “see in a dream what God will send”
  • Rincón Zapotec: “see what God shows”
  • Mayo: “see things from God as in a dream”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “dream how it is going to be”
  • Chuj: “like dreaming they see”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “understand what they see as if in a dream”
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “see that which will happen” (source for this and seven above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Tagbanwa: “being caused to dream by God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Chichewa: azidzaona zinthu m’masomphenya: “they will see things as if face-to-face” (interconfessional translation, publ. 1999) (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 69)
  • Mandarin Chinese: yì xiàng (异象 / 異象), lit. “different (or: strange) appearance.” (Source: Zetzsche)

The Greek in the books of Revelation and Acts is translated as obq-rmwible: “look-dream” in Natügu. Brenda Boerger (in Beerle-Moor / Voinov, p. 162ff.) tells the story of that translation: “In the book of Revelation, the author, John, talks about having visions. Mr. Simon [the native language translator] and I discussed what this meant and he invented the compound verb obq-rmwible ‘look-dream’ to express it. Interestingly, during village testing no one ever had to ask what this neologism meant.”

See also see a vision.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 12:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 12:1:

  • Uma: “There really is no use in praising ourselves. But even so, I will praise myself anyway. I will recount to you first vision(s) that the Lord showed me.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So then, because I have to boast I will still boast, even though there is no use in my boasting. Now I will tell you about what Almasi showed (pabagala) to me and what he made known to me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My boasting isn’t worth anything, but since a way has been made for me to boast, then I will still boast. And now I will tell you about what the Lord has revealed to me and showed to me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I am forced to continue to boast-about myself, even though it is useless. So I will tell you now what the Lord Jesus has shown me that are like dreams and what he has also made-known to me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This is also what I will say to you. Even though this habit of praise-seeking has no usefulness, it’s like I must yet relate to you concerning the things like dreamed though being awake, and (about) what the Lord caused to be seen.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I won’t gain anything telling about myself that I am very good. It is better that I will tell you about what the Lord Jesus showed to me, and I will tell you about what I saw.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:1

I must boast: in the best ancient manuscripts the words here are identical with what follows “If” in 11.30. However, some manuscripts have the conjunction sometimes rendered “but” in place of must, a difference of only one letter in Greek. Combined with the following words, this yields the translation found in King James Version, “it is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.” However, no modern version adopts this reading, and the editors of the UBS Greek New Testament give an “A” evaluation to the printed text.

There is nothing to be gained by it, that is, to be gained in terms of building up the Corinthian church. The passive to be gained may be rendered actively by saying “no one gains anything by it” or “no person benefits if I do so.”

I will go on …: the idea here seems to be “I will continue to boast…” by adding comments on visions and revelations to what has already been said. The Good News Translation rendering “Now I will talk…” seems to weaken this slightly.

Visions and revelations: the precise distinction, if any, which Paul intended between these two words is not clear. Nearly all interpreters consider these terms to be synonyms in this verse. Paul does not use the word vision elsewhere in his writings. And the only other New Testament writer to use it is (Luke 1.22 and 24.23). The word for revelations is found more frequently, notably at 1 Cor 1.7 and Rev 1.1. It is repeated in verse 7 of this chapter. The two terms may have to be translated by a single word or expression in some languages. But one African language has attempted to retain two separate items by using two verbal expressions: “matters that the Lord Jesus showed me as a dream and secrets he made known to me in my heart.”

Revelations of the Lord are “revelations granted by the Lord” (Revised English Bible) rather than revelations in which the Lord was seen. Good News Translation adds that the revelations were given to Paul (“given me”). The Lord, here and in verse 8, is most likely Christ and not God.

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 12:1

Section 12:1–10

Paul’s vision and God’s promise to him

12:1a I must go on boasting.

It is necessary for me to boast ⌊now⌋.
-or-
I am boasting because I have to. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
⌊These false teachers are bragging, so⌋ I must continue bragging.

12:1b Although there is nothing to gain,

Though this boasting has no usefulness,
-or-
Even though such boasting does not help ⌊you⌋ at all,
-or-
This type of bragging does not ⌊usually⌋ help, but

12:1c I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

I will begin telling about visions and revelations from the Lord.
-or-
I will now tell you about the times that the Lord ⌊Jesus⌋ showed visions and revealed secret things.

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