gentiles / nations

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is often translated as “gentiles” (or “nations”) in English is often translated as a “local equivalent of ‘foreigners,'” such as “the people of other lands” (Guerrero Amuzgo), “people of other towns” (Tzeltal), “people of other languages” (San Miguel El Grande Mixtec), “strange peoples” (Navajo (Dinė)) (this and above, see Bratcher / Nida), “outsiders” (Ekari), “people of foreign lands” (Kannada), “non-Jews” (North Alaskan Inupiatun), “people being-in-darkness” (a figurative expression for people lacking cultural or religious insight) (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and three above Reiling / Swellengrebel), “from different places all people” (Martu Wangka) (source: Carl Gross).

Tzeltal translates it as “people in all different towns,” Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “the people who live all over the world,” Highland Totonac as “all the outsider people,” Sayula Popoluca as “(people) in every land” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Chichimeca-Jonaz as “foreign people who are not Jews,” Sierra de Juárez Zapotec as “people of other nations” (source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), Highland Totonac as “outsider people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Uma as “people who are not the descendants of Israel” (source: Uma Back Translation), “other ethnic groups” (source: Newari Back Translation), and Yakan as “the other tribes” (source: Yakan Back Translation).

In Chichewa, it is translated with mitundu or “races.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also nations.

complete verse (Romans 11:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 11:13:

  • Uma: “These words of mine I aim at you, relatives who are not Jews. I am the apostle [messenger] of the Lord Yesus, that he sent/apostled to take the Good News to you who are not Jews. This work of mine I always value highly [lit., I always put on my pate].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I have something to say to you (pl.), the not Yahudi. I was commissioned by Isa Almasi to proclaim to the people not Yahudi. If I earnestly try-hard-to announce/proclaim to you,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for you people who aren’t Jews, I have something to say to you. As for me, I am an apostle chosen by God so that I might spread to you His word. And the reason I carefully obey what He has given me to do,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Now, I have something to say to you Gentiles. God appointed me as an apostle so that I would go and teach you, so I consider-this work -important and do-a-thorough-job” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Now there is a word I want to tell to the people who are not Jews. God has sent me to tell the good news to the people who are not Jews. But I search how it will be known that I respect this work which God gave me.” (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 Romans 11:13

The introductory statement I am speaking now to you Gentiles should indicate clearly that it is what Paul is going to say which is directed to the Gentiles. One may, therefore, need to translate as “in what I am going to say now, this is for you Gentiles” or “my following words are directed to you Gentiles.”

Beginning with the words as long as and continuing down through the end of verse 14 is one sentence in Greek. The precise meaning of Paul’s words “I glorify my ministry” is difficult to determine. Some commentators take the word “glorify” in the sense of “to give thanks for,” but most translators take the word to mean either take pride in (Jerusalem Bible “I am proud of being sent”; New English Bible “I am a missionary to the Gentiles, and as such I give all honour to that ministry”) or “make the most of” (An American Translation*; Moffatt “lay great stress on”).

The introductory conjunctive phrase as long as should probably not be interpreted in a merely temporal sense, implying that for the time being Paul was an apostle for the Gentiles and he might change his ministry shortly. A more appropriate equivalent in some languages is “inasmuch as” or “since.”

In view of the different ways in which the term “glorify” may be interpreted, there are a variety of ways in which the final clause of verse 13 may be translated. What is important, however, is to make certain that a translation of my work will focus upon Paul’s “task” rather than upon “what he has accomplished.” Paul’s pride, therefore, is not in “what he has already done” so much as in “his ministry.” Therefore one may translate as “I will take pride in my task” or “I will take pride in the work which I have to do.” Following a different interpretation of “glorify,” one may have some such translation as “I give thanks to God for the work which he has given me to do.” An interpretation such as “make the most of” may be most satisfactorily translated in some languages as “I consider my work very important.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 11:13

Paragraph 11:13–15

11:13a

The Greek of 11:13a begins with a word that is often translated as “but” and “and.” The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this word. Here the word introduces another thing that Paul wanted to say. For example:

But (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
I am… (Good News Translation)

I am speaking to you Gentiles: In the Greek, the word you is emphasized. Here are some ways to translate the emphasis:

You Gentiles, I speak to you
-or-
It is to you Gentiles that I am speaking

I am speaking: This clause refers to what Paul had been saying and what he said next. See the above examples.

speaking: The Roman believers read this letter. So in some languages the word “writing” would be more natural here.

Gentiles: Paul implied here believers who are not Jews. In some languages a literal translation would indicate or imply people who do not believe in Jesus. If that is true in your language, indicate the correct meaning. For example:

Gentile ⌊believers⌋
-or-

⌊believers who are⌋ not Jews

11:13b

Inasmuch as: The Greek of 11:13b has a word that is often translated as “then” or “therefore” after the phrase Inasmuch as. In many languages it is more natural to have it in front. For example:

Then, inasmuch as

There are two ways to translate this Greek phrase:

(1) It bases his right to act in this way on the fact that he is an apostle to the Gentiles. For example:

as far as (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It bases his right to act on how much time Paul had been an apostle to the Gentiles. For example:

As long as (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek lexicons do not support interpretation (2).

the apostle: The Greek does not have the word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as the. There are two ways to interpret this:

(1) It indicates that the word an should be added in English. For example:

an apostle (English Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It implies that the word the should be added in English. For example:

the apostle (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is unlikely that Paul claimed to be the only apostle to Gentiles, as interpretation (2) implies.

apostle: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostle means a “representative” or “messenger.” God chose Paul and sent him to tell the gospel about Jesus. See how you translated this word in 1:1.

to the Gentiles: This phrase indicates that Paul had a ministry as an apostle with people who were not Jews.

11:13c

magnify: The Greek word here is often translated “glorify.” Paul told others that his ministry is important. He boasted about it. Here are other ways to translate this word:

glorify (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
make much of (New International Version)
-or-
I go around telling to the Yuus the talk of what God has done amongst the non-Yuus through me

ministry: The Greek word here refers to the work of helping others. It refers to Paul being an apostle, not another work of his. Paul’s work as an apostle helped others. Here are other ways to translate this word:

work of service (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
this work of helping others

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