complete verse (Ephesians 5:33)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ephesians 5:33:

  • Uma: “But even so, there is still also [something of] use for us all: each man must love his wife like he loves his own body, and a woman also must respect/honor her husband.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But this is also about you the married couples. The man should love his wife as he loves himself, and the woman should honor her husband.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But that’s not all because it can also be that what He’s talking about is a married couple. It’s necessary that a woman respect her husband.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But there is nevertheless that which it means to say concerning you who are married-couples, and this is it. You (sing.) who are the man, you (sing.) must love your (sing.) spouse like the way-you (sing.) -love yourself (sing.). And you (sing.) also who are the woman, you (sing.) must respect your (sing.) spouse.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But even though it’s like that, we must not forget the shallow/surface-thing it’s alluding to which is, you men, you must value very much your respective wives. Treat her as your (sing.) own body. And you women also, you must have big respect for your husbands.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But also it means that each man must love his wife. Just like he loves his own body he must love his wife. And the woman must respect her husband.” (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 Ephesians 5:33

This verse in Greek starts with a strong adversative, expressing a contrast or exception, “except, however, nevertheless, despite.” Here it may be taken in two ways: (1) “However that may be,” “Notwithstanding this fact”: in this case the writer is going back to the main subject, treating the Christological exposition in verses 29b-31 as a digression (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible); (2) “But besides the previous interpretation,” “In addition to this”: in this case the writer is saying that besides the allegorical application of Genesis 2.24 to the relation between Christ and the church, there is also the literal application to be made to Christian husbands and their wives. The second seems preferable; so Good News Translation, New English Bible, and others.

The statement But it also applies to you may be rendered as “but these words are also about you” or “but these words are in a sense also about you.”

The Greek of every husband is quite full: “all of you, each one in particular.” Here again the command is repeated: each husband must love his wife as himself.

Respect translates the Greek verb “to fear” (see the related noun “fear” in 5.21; 6.5), which means “to fear, have awe, reverence.” In the Old Testament “to fear God” (see the phrase “the fear of Christ” in 5.21) indicates the proper attitude an Israelite should have for Yahweh. Here most translations have “respect” or “show respect for.”

In some languages it may be appropriate to speak of respect as “to think of a person as being important” or “to see a person as being great” or “regarding a person as deserving to be honored.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:33

5:33a

Nevertheless: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Nevertheless connects 5:33 with the previous verses. There are two possible ways to understand this connecting word:

(1) It indicates that Paul stopped talking about Christ and the church and summarized his advice/commands to husbands and wives. The connecting word means “however,” “nevertheless,” or “in any case.” For example:

To sum up… (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It indicates a contrast. Even though the quote from Genesis in 5:31 has a deeper meaning, it also applies to husbands and wives. For example:

But it applies also to each one of you (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is possible that both aspects of this connecting word are present, but most commentators follow interpretation (1).

love his wife as he loves himself: See how you translated the similar clause “He who loves his wife loves himself” in 5:28b.

General Comment on 5:33a–b

Note that in 5:33a, Paul summarizes the advice he gave to husbands in 5:25–31. In 5:33b he summarizes the advice he gave to wives in 5:22–24.

5:33b

must respect: The word respect means “admire” or “have high regard” for someone or something.” For example:

should respect (God’s Word)
-or-
should think highly of

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Éphésiens 5.33

Dans les versets précédents, Paul interrompt ses conseils aux couples, pour présenter des vérités concernant Christ et l’Église (5.29b-32). Paul revient maintenant au sujet principal : les relations entre mari et femme. Certains marquent un nouveau paragraphe ici. Les traducteurs pourront lire la traduction à haute voix pour voir comment mieux formater le texte.

En tout cas : ce verset commence par deux mots « néanmoins aussi » qui exprime un contraste fort ou une exception. Les traducteurs devraient utiliser une expression pour montrer que Paul laisse sa digression pour revenir au sujet principal. La Traduction œcuménique de la Bible dit alors En tout cas, la Nouvelle Bible Segond « Quoi qu’il en soit », et la Bible de Jérusalem, « Bref ». La Bible en français courant et la Parole de Vie proposent des expressions plus longues : « Mais il s’applique aussi à vous » ; « Mais il s’agit aussi de vous ». Ces versions essayent de rendre explicite l’idée que la citation de Genèse s’applique à la situation actuelle des lecteurs.

chacun de vous, pour sa part, doit aimer sa femme comme lui-même, et la femme, respecter son mari : ici Paul termine cette section en s’adressent aux deux parties : les maris et les femmes.

chacun de vous, pour sa part est littéralement « vous tous, chacun en particulier ». Quoique le mari ne soit pas mentionné explicitement, il est clair que la directive s’adresse à lui. Ainsi la Bible en français courant propose « il faut que chaque mari aime sa femme comme lui-même ».

chacun … doit aimer sa femme comme lui-même : en grec la proposition est au subjonctif : « que chacun aime… » Ceci explique le choix de doit dans la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible et « il faut que » dans la Bible en français courant. Pour aimer sa femme comme lui-même, voir Éph. 5.28 où les mêmes expressions sont utilisées.

et la femme, respecter son mari : Paul conclut en revenant sur la directive aux femmes. Dans Éph. 5.22 il dit que la femme doit se soumettre à son mari. Ici il utilise un autre terme, respecter, qui veut dire littéralement « craindre », un verbe qui paraît 5.21 dans un autre contexte : « Vous qui craignez le Christ… » En hébreu comme en grec, « craindre » veut dire respecter. Il est important dans ce contexte de bien rendre le sens, respecter, « révérer » (Bible de Jérusalem), « honorer ».

Ainsi ces conseils se terminent cette section. 5.33 ferme l’inclusion ouverte dans Éph. 5.21 et Éph. 5.22, en évoquant les mêmes termes : femmes, maris, mais aussi le verbe « craindre » rendu ici comme respecter.

Source: Zogbo, Lynell. La lettre aux Éphésiens – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2011.