The Greek that is often translated as “equality” in English is translated in Kele as likelemba, “which denotes the equal and alternate sharing of one’s share of food, wages or ration. When one has none or lacks a fair share, then a friend gives his share so that your abundance may supply their want at the present time, so that their abundance (on another occasion) may supply your need.” (source: William Ford in The Bible Translator 1957, p. 203ff. ).
complete verse (2 Corinthians 8:14)
Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 8:14:
- Uma: “At this time, since you have enough, it is appropriate if you make up the lack of those in the land of Yudea. And if later you also have a lack, they also can fill it. So, if you do like that taking care of each other, no one will have a lack, your lives will be the same.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “But I want, because now you have quite-a-bit (lit. much-much), you should help your fellows (believers) who are hard up now. Then in the future perhaps you are also the ones in difficulties but they are the ones who have, na, they can also help you. If you do like this you help each other and you equally have.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “It’s not in my mind that you should be in difficulty so that others who are in difficulty might be helped, but rather, it’s my desire that since you are now rich, you should help those believers who are in difficulty now. And then, later on in the future if you’re the ones to be in difficulty and they are the ones who are rich, they can help you also. By means of this you will all be the same and there will be no believers in difficulty.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “But since you have a lot now, it’s right if you help those who are-in-need so that if you are the ones who are-in-need in a future day, it will also be possible for them to help you. Because if you do that, you will be equal.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “But what I mean is, since you have plenty at the moment, what would be really good is, you help those who don’t have enough. For if supposing, you next are the ones who have lack, and they have plenty, of course they will then be the ones to help you. Well isn’t it so that if it’s like that, you will all be the same in having no lack?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Rather it is wanted that all be at the same level. So now that you have what you need, give to those other people who have need. But some other day, then you will be given what you need when you don’t have it. Therefore not any of you will suffer, each will have what he needs.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)
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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 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 8:13 – 8:14
The verse division in the UBS Greek New Testament is different from that in Revised Standard Version. In the Greek verse 14 begins with the words your abundance at the present time. For this reason Good News Translation combines verses 13 and 14.
That others should be eased: or, more literally, “that others should have relief” (Anchor Bible). The word “relief” is the same as used in 2.13 and 7.5, where it is rendered “rest” in Revised Standard Version. In the context of Acts 24.23 this word is translated “liberty.” In some languages one may translate this phrase “I do not mean to place a heavy load on you so that other people can carry a light load….”
Equality: the two phrases containing this term may be translated by a single sentence in some languages. It may be possible to say “I want things to be equal for everyone involved.”
Your abundance … their abundance: the idea here is more like super-abundance, that is, what is left over when all normal needs are taken care of. The same word is used of the “pieces left over” in the feeding of the four thousand in Mark 8.8. Here Anchor Bible translates “your surplus … their surplus.”
At the present time: though the same words are found in Rom 8.18 and refer to the time of suffering before God’s glory is revealed, it is not likely that such a theological meaning is intended here. In this context Paul seems to be referring only to the time when the Jerusalem Christians have needs and the Corinthian Christians have resources enough to help meet those needs.
Their want is literally “the needs of others.” Note that New Revised Standard Version has changed the word want to “need,” and most other modern versions translate this way. Paul is referring to the needs of the Jerusalem Christians. Some interpreters think that Paul is referring to the needs of the Macedonian Christians, but translators who retain the pronoun their or a similar expression will not have to decide this issue.
So that their abundance may supply your want: at the time when Paul was writing, the Jerusalem Christians did not have an abundance. Good News Translation adds the word “when” to indicate that Paul is referring to a future time when the situations of the two groups of Christians might be reversed. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “so that one day their abundance might supply your needs.”
Their want and your want: the meaning is not “that which is desired or wanted” but rather “what is lacking and needed.” It stands in contrast with your abundance and their abundance.
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 8:14
8:14a At the present time, your surplus will meet their need,
Currently your (plur.) surplus/abundance will provide for their needs,
-or-
Right now, you have more than you need and that will help them because they do not have enough.
8:14b so that in turn their surplus will meet your need.
in order that their surplus/abundance might later/also provide for your needs.
-or-
Then some day if you did not have enough and they had more, they could help you.
8:14c Then there will be equality.
Then everyone will be equal,
-or-
In that way things would balance out.
© 2016 by SIL International®
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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