Philemon 1:17 - 20 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Philemon 1:17-20 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)

Si en tu opiniĂłn somos verdaderos compañeros en el servicio de Dios, y tĂș me aceptas, acepta en la misma manera a OnĂ©simo y dale un bienvenido.

Si Onésimo te hizo algun mal o te debe dinero, pidemelo. Yo, Pablo, te escribo con mis propias manos para mostrarte que yo te pagaré para cancelar (la deuda).

Yo te enseñé y tĂș creĂ­ste en Dios, tĂș eres salvo, por cierto Âżyo no necesito pedirte que me pagues?

Hermano en Cristo hazme un favor y anima mi corazón para que esté alegre.


If you consider us to be real partners in God’s service and you accept me, then also accept Onesimus in the same way and welcome him in.

If Onesimus did something bad to you or if he owes you money, ask me for it. I, Paul write to you with my own hands to show you that I will pay you to erase (the debt).

I taught you and you believed in God and were saved, certainly I don’t have to ask you to pay me?!

Brother in Christ, do me a favor and encourage my heart, so that it will be joyful.

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

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

Philemon 1:21-22 in Mexican Sign Language >>

complete verse (Philemon 1:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:17:

  • Uma: “So, relative, since you consider me your one-faith friend, I request that you receive back Onesimus like you were receiving me.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, if we (dual) are still good friends, Pilemon, accept/receive him as you would receive me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And if you regard me as your partner, welcome Onesimus just like you would welcome me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore if it’s true that you (sing.) consider me your (sing.) companion/partner who believes, receive him upon-his-return as you (sing.) would receive me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, since our unity/harmony in standing up for the Lord is really very-strong, receive this Onesimo with a happy mind/inner-being in that in your estimation, I personally am the one you are receiving.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore if you are friends with me, then give a welcome to Onesimus just like you would give me a welcome.” (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.

Japanese benefactives (mukaete)

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æ”čèšł) Bible of 2017.

Here, mukaete (èżŽăˆăŠ) or “welcome” 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 Philemon 1:17

On the basis of this relationship with Philemon as a partner, Paul appeals to him to give Onesimus the same kind of welcome he would give Paul, that is, receive him as a brother and a partner. The word partner translates the Greek koinƍnos, cognate of the noun koinƍnia “sharing, fellowship” in verse 6 (compare 2 Cor 8.23 where Paul calls Titus his partner; in Luke 5.10 James and John are called Simon Peter’s partners). Paul is talking about partnership in the Christian faith and work. Paul phrases the matter as if it were in doubt, but this is a rhetorical device (compare a similar kind of statement in Col 2.20).

A literal rendering of the conditional clause if you think of me as your partner might suggest that this would not be the case. In order to indicate clearly the implication of what Paul is saying, one may translate “you think of me as your partner and therefore…” The expression partner often requires some kind of descriptive equivalent, for example, “as one who works together with you for the Lord.”

Welcome him back may be rendered in some instances as “receive him gladly” or, as in some languages, “when he returns, say to him, ‘You are in your own home’ ” or “… my home is your home.” These types of formulaic statements are frequently the way in which people welcome a guest.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philemon 1:17

Paragraph 17–21 Paul asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus back

In this paragraph Paul finally stated clearly to Philemon what he wanted him to do. He wanted Philemon to welcome Onesimus back in the same way that Philemon would welcome Paul if Paul were visiting him. This is the main point of the whole letter.

Paul promised to repay Philemon for anything Onesimus may have taken from Philemon or for anything wrong he may have done against him. But Paul knew that Philemon probably would not ask him to repay him, because Paul had helped him to become a Christian. Christ surely changed the way Philemon thought about life and about money. In fact, Paul was sure that Philemon would do what he was asking him to do and even more.

Paul was also sending Onesimus back to Philemon because Onesimus needed to obey his master again and help him and show that he had changed. If Onesimus did this, he and Philemon could have peace with each other again.

Read verses 17–21 again.

17a

So: Instead of saying So, Paul could have said “On the basis of what I have just said.” (verses 8–16). This would mean the same thing. He could also have said, “Thinking of what I have just written to you.”

if: Another way of expressing what Paul means by the word the Berean Standard Bible translates as if is “since” or “because.” Paul often used the word if with this meaning. If you translated 17a as “I am not sure you consider me a partner,” this would be the wrong meaning. Paul knew that Philemon thought of him as his partner. So he was saying, “Since you think of me as your partner.”

partner: The Greek word koinƍnos in this verse means “a friend who is a fellow Christian” (see verse 17 in Living Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English). It refers to someone who works together with someone else to serve the Lord. This is very similar to the meaning of the term that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “fellow worker” in verse 1.

17b

receive: To receive someone means to welcome him, to accept him gladly. Paul was asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back just as gladly as he would have received Paul.

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre à Philémon 1.17

Sur la base de la relation de partenaire ou de compagnon qu’il a avec PhilĂ©mon, Paul lui demande d’accorder Ă  OnĂ©sime le mĂȘme type d’accueil qu’il lui aurait accordĂ©. C’est-Ă -dire, il lui demande de le recevoir comme frĂšre et compagnon de travail.

Si donc tu me tiens pour ton frĂšre en la foi : cette proposition conditionnelle Ă©voque une vĂ©ritĂ© et non pas une hypothĂšse. Paul sait que PhilĂ©mon le tient pour un frĂšre, sinon un pĂšre, dans la foi. Si une traduction littĂ©rale de la condition donne l’impression que cela ne serait pas effectivement le cas, il faudrait l’éviter. On pourra dire, « Je sais que tu me considĂšres comme ton frĂšre dans la foi… » ou « puisque tu me considĂšres comme ton frĂšre en la foi, alors reçois-le… »

tenir pour veut dire « considĂ©rer » ou « penser (que je suis…) »

frĂšre en la foi rend le mot grec ÎșÎżÎčΜωΜός koinĂŽnos, dĂ©jĂ  rencontrĂ© sous forme de nom au verset 6. Paul utilise le mĂȘme terme pour parler de Tite dans 2 Cor 8.23. Voir aussi Luc 5.10, oĂč le terme dĂ©crit la relation entre Jacques, Jean et Simon Pierre. Paul fait appel Ă  la communion qui existe entre les deux hommes. On pourra dire « Si tu considĂšres que nous partageons la mĂȘme foi… » ou « Si tu me considĂšres comme quelqu’un qui croit comme toi au Seigneur ». Ici la Bible en français courant et la Parole de Vie parlent d’« ami », mais ce mot semble faible par rapport Ă  cette relation intime.

reçois-le comme si c’était moi est la traduction de la majoritĂ© des versions françaises (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Segond RĂ©visĂ©e). S’il faut rendre l’idĂ©e plus explicite, on pourra dire « reçois-le bien » ou « avec joie comme si c’était moi ». On pourra aussi dire « accueille-le comme tu allais m’accueillir ».

Ce que Paul demande Ă  PhilĂ©mon n’est pas facile, mais il faudra noter qu’apparemment OnĂ©sime a aussi acceptĂ© de retourner chez son maĂźtre, mĂȘme si cela doit lui coĂ»ter cher.

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.