complete verse (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 9:6:

  • Uma: “Consider these words: the one who scatters little, little also will he harvest. The one who scatters much, much also will he harvest.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Really remember this parable, it says, ‘If a person sows a little seed/few seeds, he will also harvest a little. But if he sows many seeds he will also harvest much.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Don’t forget this parable, that which says: if we (incl.) plant only a little, a little only also is what we will harvest. And if we plant much, much also is what we will harvest.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Please remember this. The one who plants little, little also is what he will harvest, but the one who plants much, much also is what he will harvest.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “What giving of (financial) help is like is what-is-planted, in-which if it is a little, of course little indeed is what will be harvested. But if it was a lot, what will be harvested will of course be a lot.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Remember this word I now tell you. The person who gives little, will also be given little from God. But the person who gives much, will also be given much from God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 9:6

Many translations begin a new paragraph with verse 6. And New Jerusalem Bible has a section heading at this point. It reads “Blessings to be expected from the collection.” Verses 6-11 provide one motive for giving, that is, God will bless the giver; and verses 12-15 provide a second motive, God will be glorified.

The point is this: literally “but this.” The Greek words indicate that what follows is a summary of what he has already written concerning the matter of giving. Some may wish to translate “What I am trying to say is this….” Contemporary English Version highlights the fact that what follows seems to have been a well-known adage that was perhaps frequently quoted in Paul’s day: “remember this saying….” The words are set off in poetic format and enclosed in quotation marks. However, we do not know the source of the saying.

He who sows … he who sows: these two participles are masculine in Greek, but since Paul does not seem to be referring exclusively to men, translators may wish to use inclusive terms as in Good News Translation or New Revised Standard Version (“the one who sows”). Contemporary English Version says “A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.” In some languages it will be more natural to make the subject both human and plural: “people who plant only a few seeds will gather in only a little food, but those people who plant many seeds will gather in much food.”

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 9:6

Section 9:6–15

Give generously and joyfully

9:6a Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

So/And think about this ⌊saying⌋ : If someone plants few seeds, he will harvest a little fruit/grain.
-or-
Consider these words: The person who sows sparsely will also reap sparsely,

9:6b and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

And, if someone plants generously/much, he will also harvest generously/much.
-or-
and/but the person who sows in a way that blesses will also reap a blessing.

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