Mysia

The name that is transliterated as “Mysia” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that refers to trees on the beach (a possible meaning of the name is “beach tree”) and includes the concept of “hinder” because Paul and his fellow-travelers was hindered by the Holy Spirit to go into that region. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Mysia” in Libras (source )

More information about Mysia .

complete verse (Acts 16:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 16:8:

  • Uma: “That is why they passed by the land of Misia and went-down to the town of Troas on the edge of the sea.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So they passed/crossed through the middle of the land Misiya and went down towards the place Toroas.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And because of this, they went through Mysia, and they went down and arrived there in the town of Troas on the shore of the sea.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So they walked through Misia going-directly to Troas.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore it was indeed there in the district of Misia where they travelled until they arrived at the city of Troas.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 16:8

The Good News Translation transitional particle so is an important element in connecting verse 8 with verse 7. Since this introduces the result of Paul and his group not having been able to go where they had expected to go, it is useful to indicate the resulting alternative, namely, going on through Mysia.

For the average reader, a number of these details of geographical relationships are obviously obscure and therefore need to be supplemented by maps. It is for that reason that the Bible Societies urge that in any publication of a book such as The Acts the Apostles there be an accompanying map which will show the relationships of these various areas. Of course, for some people who are just emerging from a nonliterate state (that is, in translations for peoples who have not previously had a written language), maps present obvious difficulties, since people need to learn how to “read maps.” Nevertheless, people do learn readily, and it is important that publications for such persons, as well as for any public, have adequate maps. Otherwise the text is unduly obscure and may be misleading.

The verb which the Good News Translation has translated traveled right on through has as its primary meaning “passed by” (see alternative rendering in Good News Translation). However, the problem is that it would have been impossible for them to have gone from the border of Mysia straight to Troas without passing through Mysia, since they had been forbidden to go to Bithynia. Moreover, there are places where this verb definitely means “to travel through,” and most scholars understand it to mean such in the present passage. Went down is the normal expression that one would use to describe a trip from the interior down to the coastal region. Troas was a port city of Mysia on the Aegean Sea, near the spot where the city of Troy had once been.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 16:8

16:8

they passed by Mysia: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as passed by:

(1) It refers to passing through Mysia without stopping to preach. For example:

they traveled right on through Mysia (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It refers to going around Mysia. For example:

passing by Mysia (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, English Standard Version, New Century Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Troas is generally considered to be in western Mysia and Paul and his companions probably traveled through Mysia to arrive there.

went down to Troas: The phrase went down indicates a trip from the hills and mountains to the coast. The tallest mountain in the area is Mount Ida, 1774 meters (5820 feet). The main roads went around this mountain.

Troas: In this name, both vowels (“o” and “a”) are pronounced. It was the name of a city near the shore of the Aegean Sea.

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