complete verse (1 Corinthians 10:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 10:15:

  • Uma: “I am talking here like one who is talking to those whose hearts are clear [aware, mature]. You examine for yourselves my words, whether they are true or not.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “You are people who know to think. Therefore really think about what I say to you here if it is correct or not.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for you, you know how to think; therefore, you just think about what I am saying to you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “You certainly know how to think, so kindly think whether this that I will say is correct or not.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “You are wise/thinking people. Therefore think over well whether what I’m saying is right or not.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Your hearts will understand what I am saying now. You can judge whether or not it is correct what I am telling you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Japanese benefactives (handanshite)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, handanshite (判断して) or “judge/decide” 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 1 Corinthians 10:15

Commentators differ on whether Paul is being ironical or not in the first part of this verse. The word translated sensible here is the same as the word translated “wise” in 4.10. In 4.10 Paul is obviously ironical, even bitter. However, if the present passage is read by itself, there seems little or no indication of irony here. If this is so, verse 15a should be translated “by the way I speak, I am treating you as people who are in fact sensible” or “I am speaking to you because I know that you are sensible people.” In both Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible the present tense I speak is used. However, Paul is thinking of what he is about to say, and in some languages it may be necessary to make this clear by using a future tense. The Greek for sensible is an adjective used as a noun; men or “people” is implied, and women are not excluded.

In verse 15b for is implied, and yourselves is emphatic. The meaning is “don’t take my word for it, but come to your own conclusions.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .