could not speak

The Greek in 1 Corinthians 12:2 that is translated as “could not speak” or “mute” in English is translated in Elhomwe as “were lifeless.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

idol / idols

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “idol(s)” in English is translated in Central Subanen as ledawan or “images.” (Source: Robert Brichoux in OPTAT 1988/2, p. 80ff. )

In German, typically the term Götze is used. Originally this was used as a term of endearment for Gott (“God” — see here ), later for “icon” and “image, likeness.” Luther started to use it in the 16th century in the meaning of “false god, idol.”

Other terms that are used in German include Götzenbild(er) (“image[s] of idols”) or Bildnis (“image” — Protestant) / Kultbild (“cultish image” — Catholic) (used for instance in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8). The latest revision of the Catholic Einheitsübersetzung (publ. 2016) also uses the neologism Nichtse (“nothings”) in 1 Chron. 16:26 and Psalm 96:5. (Source: Zetzsche)

See also worthless idols.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 12:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 12:2:

  • Uma: “You yourselves know, relatives, that before you knew God, you were continually led-along without thinking to worship idols that couldn’t speak.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “You remember that formerly at the time when you did not yet trust in Isa Almasi you were influenced/taken along by demons to worship the idols that don’t live.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “You know that a long time ago before you believed in Jesus, there was someone who used supernatural power to make you worship idols. And by means of these lifeless idols, your thoughts long ago were led astray.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because you know that while you were still pagans, you were continually going-astray, because someone was guiding you so that you would be worshipping idols that were not able-to-speak.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Is it not so that in the past, when you did not yet acknowledge God, you were dragged and being fooled into serving no matter what pretend god, idols/statues which can’t speak?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You know concerning the days which have already passed, when you did not yet know God, you worshipped the idols which do not speak. And because of the idols you worshipped, you did not know God’s road.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

know (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-zonji (ご存じ), a combination of “know” (zonji) and the honorific prefix go-.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 1 Corinthians 12:2

The statement You know is an equivalent of Paul’s frequent question “Do you not know?” used, for example, in 3.16. Paul refers here to facts that his readers clearly know.

Nowhere else does Paul refer to Corinthian Christians as having been heathen. Since Paul uses the past tense, when you were heathen, he must be thinking about their beliefs and way of life that changed when they became Christians, rather than about their race. Heathen or “people who did not worship God” is probably a more adequate translation than “non-Jews” in this context.

The general meaning of the rest of the verse is clear, but the Greek is extremely difficult in detail. Both ancient scribes and modern editors have made or suggested various changes in trying to make the text clearer. The main options for the translator are represented by the New English Bible text, “you were swept off to those dumb heathen gods, however you happened to be led” (as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible), and the New English Bible footnote, “you would be seized by some power that drove you to those dumb heathen gods”; similarly Revised English Bible “you used to be carried away by some impulse or other to those dumb heathen gods.” (“Dumb” in these translations means, of course, “unable to speak,” not “stupid.”)

Led astray is literally “led away,” but the extended meaning of “led into error” is the likely one here. Translators may wish to avoid the passive here and say “lifeless idols led you astray.”

The word translated dumb (Good News Bible‘s “lifeless”) is literally “voiceless.” The implied meaning expressed in various Old Testament passages is that pagan idols are lifeless and therefore cannot speak or answer. The literal translation “voiceless” should be avoided, since it appears to contradict verse 3a where people are said to speak under the influence of an evil spirit. “Lifeless” therefore gives the meaning better.

However (Good News Bible‘s “in many ways”) probably suggests repeated action. It also may be translated “in one way or another” (Translator’s New Testament).

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 .