mind

The Greek that is typically translated as “mind” in English is translated in Warao as obojona, a term that “includes the concepts of consciousness, will, attitude, attention and a few other miscellaneous notions.” (Source: Henry Osborn in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 74ff. )

In Elhomwe it is often translated as “heart,” “because all thoughts come from heart in Elhomwe thought.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See other occurrences of Obojona in the Warao New Testament.

complete verse (Romans 14:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 14:5:

  • Uma: “There are also people who say certain days are more appropriate for us to-worship-on. Yet some say that all days are just the same. The main thing is: every one of us must really believe in his heart that God approves of what he does.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There are people they regard/consider that one day is greater than the other days. There are also people they regard/consider the days as alike. You (pl.) ought to each one be sure as to what is your thinking.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In the same way also, one person considers that there are days which are precious to God, and another also considers that God does not consider any day more precious than another. It’s necessary that each one is convinced that what he thinks and does is the right thing to do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There are also those who count one day as more-valuable than the other days, while others say there is no day which is to be differentiated as more-valuable. Concerning this, the mind of each one must not doubt that what he is doing is right.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There are some believers who say that there is one day which is more holy that other days. And also there are others who say that all the days are equal. Therefore each of the believers, concerning the word which they understand to be good, that is the word they should do.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Romans 14:5

The structure of this verse is similar to that of verse 2; in both verses Paul contrasts the attitude of the man who is weak in faith with the attitude of the man who is strong in faith. In verse 3 Paul referred first to the man who is strong in faith; in verse 5 he refers first to the man who is weak in faith.

Since more than one individual is involved in thinking that one day is more important than another, it is often necessary, instead of one man thinks … to translate “Some people think that a certain day is more important than other days, while other people think that all days have the same value.”

It is impossible to state definitely what days Paul has in mind. He may be referring to the tendency of the Jewish Christians to continue to observe the Sabbath day, but it is also possible that he is referring to special days which other groups felt must be observed for religious purposes. For similar passages see Galatians 4.10 and Colossians 2.16.

Although the sense of the last sentence of verses 5, each one should have his own mind firmly made up, is quite evident, it is not always easy to translate such an expression into another language. In some instances this may be done as “each one should be convinced that what he thinks is right,” “each one should be sure as to why he thinks as he does,” or “each one should be able to say to himself, This is surely what it should be.”

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 14:5

Paragraph 14:5–9

14:5a–c

One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind: Paul wrote here about believers. At least, the command, Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind (14:5c), is to believers. For example:

Some of the Lord’s followers think one day is more important than another. Others think all days are the same. But each of you should make up your own mind. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Some people think that a certain day is more important than other days, while others think that all days are the same. We each should firmly make up our own minds. (Good News Translation)

14:5a

regards: Here the Greek word refers to deciding that one thing is better than another. For example, some believers said that the Sabbath was more holy than the other days. Here are other ways to translate this word:

prefers
-or-
think…more important (Good News Translation)
-or-
considers…more sacred (New International Version)

14:5b

while: The Greek word here is usually translated “and” or “but.” The connection indicates that the two different things both occur. Use whatever is most natural in your language. For example:

and (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
but
-or-
Another person… (God’s Word)

considers every day alike: The Greek is literally “esteems every day.” This kind of believer believes each day is equally important.

14:5c

Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind: The Greek is a command to be fully convinced. For example:

Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
And they must make their thinking strong about these things.

In some languages it is not natural to command someone to think a certain way. In that case, use the words or grammar to indicate or imply a command here. For example:

Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Each person’s mind must/should be fully convinced.
-or-
So, each of them must be in the state of firmly believing that it is right for them to think like that.

be fully convinced in his own mind: Being convinced of something occurs in the mind. In some languages, it is more natural to not translate the phrase in his own mind. For example:

be fully convinced (New Living Translation (2004))

be fully convinced: This phrase means “completely sure about something.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

be absolutely sure
-or-
be certain

See how you translated “fully persuaded” in 4:21.

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 14.5

14.5-12

La plupart des versions considèrent Rom 14.1 comme une unité. Dans la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible et la Bible de Jérusalem ces versets sont groupés en un seul paragraphe. D’autres le découpent en plusieurs paragraphes, Rom 13.1, Rom 13.5, comme dans la Bible en français courant, le Segond Révisée et la Parole de Vie. D’autres versions présentent un découpage différent, par exemple, Osty-Trinquet ( Rom 14.7), La Bible du Semeur ( Rom 14.1, Rom 14.5 et Rom 14.7) et Nouvelle Bible Segond ( Rom 14.1, Rom 14.5, Rom 14.10). Les traducteurs choisiront le découpage qui convient le mieux dans leur langue.

Ce verset ressemble par sa structure au Rom 14.2, où Paul met en opposition l’attitude de celui qui est faible avec celle de celui qui est fort dans la foi. En Rom 14.2, le fort dans la foi est mentionné avant celui qui est faible, mais ici c’est l’inverse. Quelques termes reviennent aussi, par exemple, la conjonction μέν men ( Rom 14.2) et le verbe juger (deux fois ; Rom 14.3).

Pour l’un, il y a des différences entre les jours ; pour l’autre, ils se valent tous : Paul décrit deux types de personnes, celles qui respectent certains jours et fêtes, et celles qui ne les respectent pas.

Pour l’un, il y a différences entre les jours est litt. « celui qui juge un jour plus qu’un jour ». Il n’est pas possible de savoir quels sont les « jours plus importants » auxquels Paul fait allusion. Certains chrétiens d’origine juive ont probablement continué d’observer le jour du sabbat et d’autres fêtes. Leenhardt (p. 196) pense qu’il s’agit aussi d’autres « …pratiques d’abstinence ou de jeûne fixées à dates régulières ». Voir, par exemple, Gal 4.10 et Col 2.16. On pourrait dire « Pour l’un, certains jours ont plus d’importance que d’autres… » (Bible en français courant) ou « Quelqu’un pense que certains jours sont plus importants que d’autres… » (Parole de Vie).

pour l’autre, ils se valent tous : comme en Rom 14.2, cette proposition est introduite par δέ de. Plusieurs versions l’omettent mais elle peut aussi être rendue par « mais », « et », ou « tandis que ». Le texte dit litt. « mais celui qui juge chaque jour ». Il faut rendre explicite que ces personnes considèrent que tous les jours ont la même valeur. Encore une fois les référents sont au singulier, mais dans plusieurs langues, un pluriel sera plus naturel.

Que chacun, en son jugement personnel, soit animé d’une pleine conviction est litt. « que chacun dans sa propre réflexion reste assuré ». L’expression jugement personnel rend les mots ἰδίῳ νοῒ idioi noi. Voir Rom 1.28. Le verbe utilisé signifie « complètement convaincu ». On pourrait dire « Il faut que chacun soit bien convaincu de ce qu’il pense » (Bible en français courant) « Chacun doit être sûr, bien persuadé de ce qu’il pense » (Parole de Vie).

Source: Margot, Jean-Claude & Zogbo, Lynell. La lettre aux Romains – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.