The Greek in Ephesians 6:5 that is translated as “singleness of heart,” “sincere heart” or similar in English is translated in Matumbi idiomatically as “a clean heart that is free of lies.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
serve
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)
complete verse (Ephesians 6:5)
Following are a number of back-translations of Ephesians 6:5:
- Uma: “My relatives that are slaves, follow the orders of your nobles in this world. Honor and submit to them sincerely [lit., from the whiteness of your heart]. Do it the same way that you submit to Kristus [lit., Do it like your submitting to Kristus.]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “You the slaves/servants, you should follow/obey the commands of your masters here in this world. Honor them and follow/obey them whole-heartedly, as if it is Almasi whom you are working for.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for you servants, thoroughly carry out the commands which your bosses here on the earth give you. Respect them, and it’s necessary that your obeying their commands comes from your good breath (comes from your desire to do good), just as if Christ was the One who commanded you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “You slaves, you should obey your masters on this earth. Respect them (lit. have-shame-to them) and put-forth your efforts (lit. ability) to do what they tell you as you would do if Cristo were the one sending-you-on-errands (i.e. your master).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Well now you slaves also, you need to obey with complete obedience your masters here in the world. Obey them with true respect for them, not just pretence, in which it is like Cristo you are serving.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Listen you workers, obey your bosses for whom you work here in the world. Truly from the heart respect them. From the heart do the work you are working at, considering it like as though you were doing the work of Christ.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Translation commentary on Ephesians 6:5
As in the case of “fathers” in verse 4, it may be necessary here to say “I am speaking now to those of you who are slaves,” or, more simply, “You who are slaves.”
This verse is quite similar to Colossians 3.22 (see the Handbook on Colossians). Human masters translates “masters according to the flesh.”
In some languages it may be completely misleading to speak of human masters, since the equivalent of masters is “owner,” and certainly all owners of slaves were human beings. Accordingly, it may be less confusing to translate “obey your master” or “obey your owners.”
The bound phrase fear and trembling occurs also in 1 Corinthians 2.3; 2 Corinthians 7.15; Philippians 2.12 (and see the related verbs in Mark 5.23). New International Version, Barclay translate “respect and fear”; Jerusalem Bible “deep respect.” This phrase is essentially a type of idiom indicating respect and obedience, and therefore it may be appropriate to translate it as “you should respect your owners and obey them completely.”
A sincere heart translates “in singleness of heart,” that is, sincerely, honestly, with no ulterior motive or hidden intention. In a number of instances the meaning may be best expressed negatively, for example, “without just pretending to do so” or “without making your owners just think that you respect them.”
As though you were serving Christ translates the Greek “as to Christ” (Revised Standard Version), that is, with the same attitude that obedience to Christ requires. Beare takes the phrase to mean “viewing it as service done to Christ.” Abbott comments “so that your service to your master is regarded as service to Christ.” Translator’s New Testament translates “as you would to Christ”; New International Version “just as you would obey Christ.” The translation should not imply that the writer is doubtful whether the Christian slaves’ obedience to Christ is a fact; obedience to Christ is the standard by which to measure obedience to human masters.
As though you were serving Christ may be translated as “you should do what they say, even as you would do what Christ says” or “… do as Christ says.”
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 .
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