serve

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)

complete verse (Romans 15:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 15:28:

  • Uma: “So, I am going first to Yerusalem to offer to them this help money that has been gathered. After that, then I will go to the land of Spanyol, passing through your village.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When this work of mine is finished, that means when I have already given/handed-over to them all the money sent to them, I will leave/sail for the land of the Kastila’ nation and I will first stop-over to visit you there.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when this work of mine is finished, I will deliver this money which is meant to help them. And then I will leave again for Spain and I will stop over with you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So then, after I have handed-over this money to them, I will then set-out heading-for-Espanya and I will stop-by to visit you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But now as soon as I have gone and delivered the money which has been gathered, I then will go to Spain. But I want to pass through there where you live to greet you.” (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 15:28

This task (New American Bible “my task”; Moffatt, New English Bible “this business”; An American Translation* “this matter”) is literally “this” (Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible).

And have turned over to them the full amount of money that has been raised for them is literally “and sealed to them this fruit” (see RSV footnote and King James Version). The phrase “this fruit” can easily be understood in the sense of the money that has been raised for them (Jerusalem Bible “what has been raised”; Moffatt “the proceeds of the collection”; An American Translation* “this contribution”). The use of the verb “to seal” in this context is admittedly difficult. Perhaps it is best understood from the practice of sealing sacks of grain. If a sack of grain were sealed, the recipient was assured that the grain he received was the full amount that had been placed in the sack. For that reason the Good News Translation renders this verb as have turned over to them the full amount.

And have turned over to them the full amount of money that has been raised for them, may be interpreted as an explanation of this task—for example, “When I have finished this task, namely, turning over to them the full amount of money which has been raised for them.” Full amount of money may be “all the money.”

I shall leave for Spain and visit you on my way there is literally “I shall go through you to Spain.” The Jerusalem Bible renders this as “I shall set out for Spain and visit you on the way.” This clause may also be rendered as “I will begin my journey to Spain but stop to see you on the way” or “… stop to stay with you for a time on the way.”

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 .