brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.”

See also brothers.

complete verse (Hebrews 13:22)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 13:22:

  • Uma: “Relatives, I request that you not be tired listening to this advice of mine, for this letter of mine is just short.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I beseech you, my brothers, really listen-obey my teaching in this letter, for this my letter isn’t all that long.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Brethren, I beg you that you endure listening to all of these words of mine to you, because this letter of mine is not yet so very long.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Please-be-so-kind brothers as to patiently receive this that I have written to advise/admonish and strengthen you, because this letter of mine to you is really not very-long.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Lastly, I am asking, brethren, that hopefully you will not get fed up with (lit. enoughed) listening to this teaching of mine, for I really didn’t make it very long.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my brothers, listen well to this word I am telling you. It is not a long word with which I instruct you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

request / beg (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The concept of “requesting” is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-negai (お願い), combining “request” (negai) with the respectful prefix o (お).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

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. )

Japanese benefactives (taeshinonde)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, taeshinonde (耐え忍んで) or “persevere” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Hebrews 13:22

Verses 22-25 may be a covering note, sent with the rest of the letter to another congregation. The Good News Bible section heading Final Words may be rendered as “The last words of this letter.”

Verse 22 contains the writer’s second personal appeal. He now uses the first person singular, translated I.

Listen patiently could be misunderstood: (a) if the text is read aloud, as referring to a message of encouragement still to come; and (b) if the text is read silently, as making the reader ask “Why did the writer not ask his readers at the beginning of his letter to listen patiently?” The problem is solved if two things are kept in mind:
(1) Listen patiently need not refer to the danger of being bored; it refers more often to the danger of being angry or annoyed.
(2) Encouragement is only one part of the meaning of a flexible word, which in 12.5 has more the meaning of “challenge” (see comments there).

These two considerations lead to a translation similar to that of Jerusalem Bible: “I do ask you, brothers, to take these words of advice kindly; that is why I have written to you so briefly.” It is also possible to render the first part of this verse as “My fellow Christians, I urge you to listen willingly to this message in which I have encouraged you” or “… in which I have exhorted you.” The final part of the verse may also be rendered as “That is why I have written to you such a short letter” or “since what I have written to you is very short.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .