Philemon 1:8 - 12 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Philemon 1:8-12 into Mexican Sign Language with back-translations into Spanish and English underneath:


© La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)

Cristo me ha entregado la autoridad, podrĂ­a mandarte, pero es mejor que no.

Ya estoy viejo y todavĂ­a me quedo aquĂ­ en la cĂĄrcel. Por servir a Jesucristo me arrestaron y me metieron en la cĂĄrcel.

Por favor, mi amigo querido, ese hombre Onésimo es como mi hijo. Me visitaba varias veces y le enseñaba a creer en Dios.

SĂ© que antes opinabas, FilemĂłn, que OnĂ©simo era inĂștil, pero ahora sĂ­ es Ăștil para nosotros dos.

Yo tengo mucho cariño para él, y ahora le envío a ti, para que estén juntos otra vez.


Christ has given me the authority, I could order you,but it’s better that I don’t.

I am already old and I am still here in prison. Because of serving Jesus Christ they arrested me and put me in prison.

Please my beloved friend, this man Onesimus is like my son. He visited me several times in prison and I taught him to believe in God.

I know that you used to think, Philemon, that Onesimus was useless, but now he is useful to both of us.

I love him very much, and now I send him to you so you can be together again.

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

<< Philemon 1:4-7 in Mexican Sign Language

Philemon 1:13-16 in Mexican Sign Language >>

complete verse (Philemon 1:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:12:

  • Uma: “So now, this child whom I love I am ordering to return ["to you" implied in verb].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I am sending back to you Onesimus whom I really love.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I am now returning to you Onesimus who is very dear to me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I am hereby returning (him) to you (sing.), he whom I much-love, so that you (sing.) will be in-charge-of/responsible-for him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Now I am causing him to return to you, and in the big-size of my holding him dear, you could say that my own body is what I am causing to return.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now I will send him to go to where you are. But I will never forget him because I very much love him.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Performing Philemon from a Caribbean Perspective

The following is a translation for a performance of the book of Philemon in Papiamento and its English translation. The translation is interspersed with a provocative fictional response by the historical character of Tula, the Curaçaoan revolt leader of 1795, juxtaposing the subtle liberating message of Paul with a revolutionary approach. This is followed by a video showing the performance:

1 Esaki ta karta
1 This is [a] letter

di Pablo,
from Paul,

i di ruman Timoteo,
From sibling Timothy

Pablo prezu pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus;
Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ-Jesus

ta pa Filemon, kompañer’i trabou,
it is for Philemon, fellow of work

2 ta pa Iglesia, reunĂ­ na su kas.
2 It is for the church, gathered at his house

Karta tambe pa Apfia, nos ruman muhé,
Letter also to Apphia, our sibling female

Karta tambe pa Argipo, kompañer’i lucha.
Letter also for Archippus fellow of fight

Click or tap here to see the rest of this translation as well as the video performance

3 Dios nos Tata, duna boso
3 God the Father give you

Señor Hesu-Kristu duna boso
Lord Jesus-Christ give you

grasia i pas.
grace and peace

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Lesa mi ta lesa den karta sagrado
     Read I do read in holy letter

     Ta ku masha kachĂšt mester kumindĂĄ bo
     (that) with lots of respect you have to be greeted

     Pa kombensĂ©bo ku hende ta util
     (so as to) convince you that (a) human being is useful

     Hende ta mas k’util.
     (A) Human being is more than useful

4 Mi Dios mi ta gradisĂ­,
4 My God I do thank

Ora mi kĂČrdabo den mi orashon,
When I remember you in my prayer

5 pasobra hopi fe den Señor Hesus bo tin
because lots of faith in (the) Lord Jesus you have

Segun mi a tende,
From what I hear

Stimashon pa Dios su pueblo bo tin.
Love for God his people you have.

6 Mi ta resa, pa e fe
I pray for the faith

ku bo ta kompartĂ­ ku otro kreyente,
that you share with other believers,

hiba na komprondementu berdadero di tur kos bon
lead to understanding true of all good things

ku pa Kristu nos por hasi.
that for Christ we can do

7 Mi ruman, bo amor
7 My sibling, your love

a hasi mi mashĂĄ kontentu
has made me very happy

kurashĂĄ mi hopi,
encouraged me a lot

pasobra el a sirbi pa animĂĄ kurason di e rumannan.
Because he has to animate (the) heart of the siblings.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ta trasta mester trasta ku bo
     Flatter has to flatter you

     Hunta stropi na bo boka
     Put honey at your mouth

     Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal robes
     So as to say that you are badly wrong

     Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal brua
     So as to say that you are badly confused

8 P’esei derecho mi tin di bisa bo kiko hasi,
8 That is why with what right I have to tell you what to do,

Ora mi apelĂĄ na Kristu.
When I appeal to Christ.

9 TĂČg a base di amor,
9 Though on (the) basis of love,

un petishon mi ta preferĂĄ hasi na bo.
A petition I prefer to do to you.

Ami, Pablo un hĂČmber bieu kaba,
I, Paul a man old already

asta prezu awor pa kousa di Kristu
even imprisoned now for (the) cause of Christ

10 Mi ke pidi bo pa mi yu Onésimo;
10 I want to ask you for my son Onesimus;

ta den prisĂłn mi a bira su tata spiritual.
it is in prison that I have become his spiritual father.

11 Un tempu e no tabata sirbi bo pa nada,
11 A time he was not useful for anything

pero awor el a bira Ăștil pa nos tur dos,
but now he has become useful to two of us,

manera su nĂČmber mes ta nifikĂĄ.
just as his name means.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Pachi7 Pablo pone preshon
     Old man Paul put pressure

     Pachi Pablo no papia ko’I kĂšns
     Old man Paul do not speak foolishness

     Ku trabou’i katibu n’ ta bal nada
     (to say) that work of slave is not worth anything

     Ku mi t’ei djis pa ta “util.”
     That I am (exist) just to be “useful”

12 Mi ta mand’é bĂšk pa bo;
12 I am sending him back to you

ta manera mi kurason mes
as if my heart itself

mi ta ranka saka manda pa bo!
I rip out and send to you!

13 Gana di ten’é serka mi, mi tin
13 Desire to have him with me, I have

pa e por a yuda mi na bo lugĂĄ,
so that he can help me in your place

tanten mi ta prezu pa kousa di e bon notisia.
while I am imprisoned for the cause of the good news.

14 Sinembargo mi no ke hasi nada sin bo aprobashon,
14 Although I do not want to do anything without your approval

pa bo no haña bo ta hasi un bondat fĂČrsĂĄ,
so you will not find yourself doing a good, forced,

ma dje manera akí bo por hasié di bo mes boluntat.
but in this way you can do it from your own will.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ai malai ai malai ei
     (lamentation sound)

     Ai malai ai malai ei
     (lamentation sound)

     Si bo tabata konosĂ© dolĂł di katibu
     If you do not know (the) pain of slave(s)

     Pablito lo bo no a saka bo shiri shiri,
     (Dear) Paul (diminutive)
     you would not have to take out your guts,

     Bo yu sin dolĂł, mand’é bĂšk.
     your child-without-pain to send him back.

15 Por ta mashĂĄ bon:
15 Could be very well:

pa un tempu el a alehĂĄ for di bo,
For a time he has gone away from you,

djis pa bo hañ’é bĂšk pa semper.
Just so you can find him back for ever.

16 Pasobra awor e no ta djis un simpel katibu:
16 Because now he is not just a simple slave:

mas ku un katibu e ta un ruman stimĂĄ.
More than a slave he is a beloved sibling.

Anto spesialmente pa mi, e ta mashĂĄ stimĂĄ!
And especially for me, he is very well loved.

Pero pa abo: mas stimå ainda, komo katibu i komo ruman den Señor.
And for you more: more loved, as a slave/servant and as sibling in (the) Lord.

17 Ke men si bo tin mi pa kompañero,
17 That is to say if you have me for (a) collaborator,

risibí Onésimo manera lo bo a risibí mi mes.
receive Onesimus as you would have received me.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Di Adam ku Eva nos ta bini.
     From Adam and Eva we come

     Boso Buki mes ta bisa.
     Your Book itself says it

     Si nos tur ta bin di tera,
     If we all can come from the earth

     T’un lokura abusĂĄ di esun
     It is a madness to abuse

     ku ta puluwĂ© den tera.
     the one who plows the earth.

18 Si el a perhudikĂĄ bo den ki forma ku ta
18 If he has damaged you in whatever manner

ĂČf si e ta debe bo algu,
or if he owes you something

laga esei pa mi kuenta.
leave that for to my account.

19 Awor mi mes man ta skibi esaki:
19 Now my own hand writes this:

‘Ami, Pablo, ta paga bo bùk!’
“I, Paul, will pay you back!”

Mi n’ tin nodi’ kĂČrda bo ku bo debe serka mi ta bo mes!
There is no need for me to remind me that your debt with me is yourself!

20 Sí, mi ruman, hasi mi e fabor akí pa Señor;
20 Yes, my sibling, do this favor for me for (the) Lord;

animĂĄ mi kurason komo ruman den Kristu!
animate my heart as sibling in Christ!

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Esta kurashi!
     What (a) boldness!

     Esta tribĂ­!
     What audacity!

     Paga bĂšk, 
..paga bĂšk??? paga bĂšk!!!
     Pay back,

pay back???? Pay back!!!

     SinbĂšrguensa ta bo mester paga bĂšk.
     (You-without-shame) you have to pay back.

     Paga bĂšk, t’a bo mester duna bĂšk.
     Pay back, you have to pay back.

     Ladron di alma, ladron di bida, ezĂš chupadĂł di sanger!
     Soul robber, life robber, blood sucking vampire!

21 Sigur mi ta skibi,
21 For sure I write,

Sigur mi ta ku bo ta skucha mi.
For sure I know that you hear me.

I mi sa ku lo bo bai mas leu ku loke mi ta pidibo.
And I know that you will go beyond what I ask you.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Changa el a changa bo Filemon
     Cornered he has cornered you Philemon.

     Komader LibertĂ© na banda suit.
     Kamader9 Freedom to the south.

     Kompader FraternitĂ© na banda nĂČrt.
     Kompader Brotherhood to the north

     I kompĂšr EgalitĂ© no ta bĂšk ni ost ni west.
     And kompĂšr Equality does not retreat, neither to the east nor to the west.

22 Ahan, . . . preparĂĄ un lugĂĄ pa mi keda,
22 Aha, . . . prepare a place for me to stay,

pasobra mi ta spera ku Dios lo skucha
because I expect that God will hear,

skucha boso orashon
will hear your (pl.) prayer(s)

i entregĂĄ mi bĂšk na boso.
and give me back to you.

23 Kumindamentu di Epafras, prizonero huntu ku mi,
23 Greetings from Epaphras, prisoner together with me,

pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus.
for the cause of Christ-Jesus.

24 Kumindamentu di esnan ku ta traha huntu kumi:
24 Greetings from those who work together with me:
Marko,
Aristargo,
Demas
i Lukas.

25 Grasia di Señor Hesu-Kristu sea ku boso.
25 Grace of (the) Lord Jesus-Christ be with you (pl.).

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ta kua grasia por ta ku bo?
     Which grace can be with you?

     HĂČmber kitadĂł di libertad,
     Man-robber-of-freedom,

     Ta kua Hesus a bendishonĂĄ
     Which Jesus has blessed,

     Bo kruel definishon di humanidat?
     Your cruel definition of humanity?

     Ta kua Dios, Spiritu puru,
     Which God, pure Spirit,

     B’a mira sklavisĂĄ niun hende.
     Have you seen enslave anybody?

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku ta kultura.
     Don’t care that it is culture.

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku ta di bo mes kolĂł
     Don’t care that it is people of your color.

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku evolushon.
     Don’t care for evolution(ary change)

     P’esei m’a muri den revolushon!
     That’s why I died in a revoluton!

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon


Source: Marlon Winedt in The Bible Translator 2015, p 3ff.

Translation commentary on Philemon 1:12

I am sending … back represents the epistolary aorist (see Col 4.8). What follows in Greek, “that is, my own heart,” is in apposition to “him.” What Paul means is that his love, concern, and most intimate feelings are tied up with Onesimus future, and in returning him to Philemon, Paul is sending his own deepest interests. It is as though Paul himself were going to Philemon.

In selecting a verb to translate sending, it is important to employ a term which is applicable to individuals and not merely to objects. An appropriate translation of I am sending him back to you now must often be rendered as a causative, for example, “I am now causing him to go back to you,” or “… to travel back to you,” or “… to return to you.”

The clause and with him goes my heart is an excellent idiomatic rendering of the underlying Greek text, but it is rare that such an expression can be translated literally into other languages. A more appropriate equivalent may be “he is one who is very dear to me” or “I love him very much.”

This verse was much altered by copyists; for a late resultant text, see King James Version.

The Greek for heart here is the same as in verse 7.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre à Philémon 1.12

Bien que la phrase en grec continue (« qui je te renvoie… »), la Traduction ƓcumĂ©nique de la Bible commence une nouvelle phrase ici.

Je te le renvoie : Paul ordonne ou insiste pour qu’OnĂ©sime retourne Ă  l’endroit d’oĂč il Ă©tait parti. Je se rĂ©fĂšre Ă  Paul, te Ă  PhilĂ©mon, et le Ă  OnĂ©sime. Pour des raisons de clartĂ©, le nom propre peut ĂȘtre utilisĂ© si nĂ©cessaire.

renvoie : le verbe choisi ici doit s’appliquer aux individus et pas Ă  de simples objets. Une maniĂšre convenable de rendre Je te le renvoie serait d’utiliser une forme causative, qui serait dans quelques langues « je fais qu’il retourne chez toi ».

lui qui est comme mon propre cƓur : qui est comme mon propre cƓur est en grec en apposition Ă  lui. Ce genre de structure peut prendre plusieurs formes dans la langue cible. On peut, par exemple, rĂ©pĂ©ter le : « Je te le renvoie, lui qui… » ou « celui qui est… » Dans certaines langues, on commencera une nouvelle phrase : « Cet homme est comme… » La Traduction ƓcumĂ©nique de la Bible ajoute la comparaison comme, mais le grec dit seulement « celui est mon cƓur ».

Pour cƓur, voir verset 7. Le terme est souvent utilisĂ© dans le NT pour parler des sentiments les plus profonds et Paul l’utilise trois fois dans cette lettre (voir aussi verset 20). Il emploie le mĂȘme mot dans 2 Cor 7.15 oĂč les versions le rendent comme « tendresse » ou « affection ». L’expression qui est comme mon propre cƓur est une excellente traduction idiomatique, mais il y a d’autres possibilitĂ©s. La Bible en français courant et la Parole de Vie offrent aussi un bon modĂšle : « une partie de moi-mĂȘme ». La Bible Bayard dit « lui qui fait partie de moi ». Les traducteurs devraient trouver une expression idiomatique Ă©quivalente dans leur langue. Dans le cas contraire, ils pourront dire « il est une personne qui m’est trĂšs chĂšre » ou « que j’aime beaucoup ».

Source: Aroga Bessong, DieudonnĂ©. La lettre Ă  PhilĂ©mon – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exĂ©gĂ©tique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2011.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philemon 1:12

Paragraph 12–14 Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon

In this letter, which Onesimus himself took to Philemon, Paul told Philemon that he was sending Onesimus back. Paul wanted Onesimus to stay with him and help him while he was in prison. But he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon because Onesimus was Philemon’s slave. It was Philemon, not Paul, who must decide whether Onesimus would come back later to help Paul while Paul was in prison.

Read verses 12–14 again.

12

sending back…him: The Greek word anapempƍ here means “send” or “send back.” Paul used this word because Onesimus had come from Philemon, and Paul was sending Onesimus back to him.

my very heart: These words mean that Paul loved Onesimus very much and did not want him to leave. It was like he was sending away a part of himself. If you have an expression in your language that shows this kind of strong emotion, it would be good to use it here.

© 1996, 2020 by SIL InternationalŸ

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.

BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.