image

The Greek that is rendered as “image” in English translations is translated in Pökoot with körkeyïn, a word that is also used to translate words like parable and example.

See also parable.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 11:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 11:7:

  • Uma: “Men who pray or speak God’s words, are not to wear-a-veil, for men are made in the image of God so that the name of God be made-big. Women must wear-veils for women make-big the names of their husbands.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But a man does not have to wear-a-cover because the man was created to resemble God and in him is seen God’s authority/power but in the woman men’s authority is seen.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “On the other hand, as for a man, it’s not necessary for him to wear a hat when he prays because he is the image of the form and power of God, and the woman, she is the image of the form of a man.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The reason a man shouldn’t put-on-a-headcloth in church is that he is the means-whereby-is-shown the authority and greatness of God, but the woman by-contrast, she shows the authority of the man, so she ought to wear-a-headcloth.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For of course it is not allowable that the man have his face veiled when you gather together because, as for him, (he is) a picture/representation of God and in the man the praiseworthiness/glory of this God is evident. But as for the woman, it is essential that she has her face veiled because, in the woman, it’s necessary that the glory of man be evident.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “However the man should not wear a hat in where the people gather, because God made the man to be like he himself is. Therefore by means of man, God is praised. But the woman exists so that man will be praised.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:7

This verse begins a new contrast in which first man and then woman is involved. The second half of the contrast is developed in verse 10.

For introduces a further argument to support the statement in 5a. But since the logical connection is not very close, most modern translations omit the word For.

Ought not to: here Paul uses negatively a Greek verb that literally means “to owe”; in verse 10 he uses it positively. It also has the extended meanings “to be under obligation” and “must, ought to.” With a negative the meaning may be either (1) “is under no obligation,” as probably in 2 Cor 12.14 (Good News Bible), or (2) “ought not to,” as in Acts 17.29. In the present verse most translations and commentaries, including New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Barrett, and Fee, agree with Revised Standard Version in choosing (2), but others such as Good News Bible, Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, New English Bible, and Moffatt choose (1). The general trend of Paul’s thought suggests that he is primarily concerned with women’s obligation to wear a head covering, an obligation that does not apply to men. He is therefore not primarily concerned with any obligations that men may have. For this reason Good News Bible‘s translation is to be preferred.

He is translates the Greek literally, but Good News Bible is correct to choose the verb “reflects,” which in English naturally extends the metaphor of image. He is in the image means that a man “is made in the likeness of God.” The language of this verse is similar to that in Gen 1.26. However, Paul adds the word glory, which here refers to “the nature of God.” Many translators will need to use nonmetaphorical language and translate the first part of this verse in a way similar to the following: “For a man does not need to put a covering over his head, because God has made him similar to himself and has given him a nature similar to his own.”

In verse 7b Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible reproduce a difference in Greek between a man (literally “man”) and woman (literally “the woman”), but there is probably no difference in meaning; Paul means “any man” and “any woman.”

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 .