complete verse (Romans 4:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 4:23:

  • Uma: “What is written there is not just Abraham’s portion.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “That writing about Ibrahim hep was not only for him,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the written word of God long ago which says that God considered him to be righteous, this was not written only about Abraham,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “These words which say that God counted him as righteous were not written for Abraham only,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When the word was written that then Abraham was cleared, it wasn’t written just to praise Abraham.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Romans 4:23

In Paul’s argument this verse is transitional. Paul has demonstrated on the basis of scripture that Abraham was accepted as righteous by God through faith, and now he begins to show how this applies also to everyone else who has faith.

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 4:23

Paragraph 4:23–25

4:23a–b

Now the words “it was credited to him” were written: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

⌊God did not tell Moses⌋ to write the words “it was counted to him”

4:23a

Now: Paul now took the example of Abraham’s faith and applied it to all people who believe in Jesus (4:24a). In some languages, this does not indicate contrast. Consider how to introduce this teaching in your language. For example:

But (English Standard Version)
-or-
The words… (New International Version)

the words “it was credited to him”: This refers to the same thing as in 4:22. Paul repeated it to say something new about it in 4:23b–24a. See how you translated it was credited to him in 4:3.

In some languages it is more natural to add “as righteousness” here. For example:

the words “it was credited to him ⌊as righteousness⌋ ”

In some languages repeating the words from 4:22 has a different meaning or is not natural. If that is true in your language, translate this without repeating the words from 4:22. For example:

just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
What is written there

4:23b

were written: This word implies here that the words were written in the Old Testament (Genesis 15:6). In some languages this information needs to be made explicit to indicate the correct meaning. For example:

were written ⌊in Scripture⌋

not only for Abraham: Here this phrase means “not only regarding him.” Moses wrote these words long after Abraham had died. Those words apply to him, but they also apply to others. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

for his sake alone (English Standard Version)
-or-
apply not only to Abraham (Revised English Bible)

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 4.23

4.23-25

Ces versets constituent une seule phrase en grec et dans la traduction de la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible. Les traducteurs devraient réfléchir sur la traduction de l’ensemble, mais sont libres de diviser le texte là où cela convient dans leur langue.

Paul essaie de tirer certaines conclusions pour ses lecteurs-auditeurs. En se référant aux Saintes Écritures, dans les passages précédents, l’apôtre a démontré qu’Abraham a été considéré comme juste par Dieu à cause de sa foi. Maintenant il va démontrer comment cette réalité s’applique à toute personne qui, comme Abraham, fait preuve de foi.

Or, ce n’est pas pour lui seul qu’il est écrit… : en grec la conjonction δέ de est rendue dans Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible du Semeur, Bible de Jérusalem, Osty-Trinquet par Or. Cependant plusieurs versions (Bible en français courant, Segond Révisée, Nouvelle Bible Segond) emploient la conjonction « Mais ».

ce n’est pas pour lui seul qu’il est écrit suit le grec d’assez près. lui renvoie à Abraham, ce que Parole de Vie rend explicite. Cette version choisit d’omettre le verbe écrire en disant « ces paroles ne sont pas pour Abraham seulement », tandis que d’autres parlent de « l’Écriture » ou des « Livres Saints ».

Cela lui fut compté est une forme abrégée de la citation de Gen 15.6 et se présente comme une citation dans le texte ici. La Bible en français courant et la Parole de Vie mettent ces mots entre guillemets. Dans beaucoup de langues il sera nécessaire de compléter la citation, en disant « cela lui fut compté comme justice », voir Rom 4.22. Pour compté, voir 4.3ss.

Plusieurs versions restructurent le verset en intervertissant les mots. La Bible en français courant propose « Mais ces mots “Dieu l’a considéré comme juste” n’ont pas été écrits pour lui [Abraham] seul », et la Parole de Vie est similaire : « Quand les Livres Saintes disent : “Dieu l’a reconnu comme juste”, ces paroles ne sont pas pour Abraham seulement ». Dans plusieurs langues, ce genre de solution sera appropriée.

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