divorce

In Ghari different words are used for a husband divorcing a wife and a wife divorcing a husband. (Source: David Clark)

In Mairasi the term that is used means “discard.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

See also divorced (woman).

complete verse (1 Corinthians 7:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 7:13:

  • Uma: “So also if a Kristen woman has a husband who is not a Kristen, and that man wants to stay with her, she is not to separate from him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For example also the woman is the one trusting in Isa Almasi but her husband does not, if her husband still wants to be one with her she shall not ask her husband to divorce her.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the same thing is true of a woman who has believed. She must not divorce her unbelieving husband if the husband does not wish to divorce.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for you married-couples also where one believes and his/her spouse does not, this is what I tell you. This isn’t a command of the Lord Jesus, because he said nothing about this. If the one who doesn’t believe agrees that they continue as a married-couple, the believer should not divorce/separate-from him/her.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, in the same way, if a woman who is a believer is married to an unbeliever, but the man wants their marriage to continue, the woman shouldn’t separate-from/divorce him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And if a woman has a husband who isn’t a believer, but the husband looks well upon living with his wife, then the wife should not separate from her husband.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:13

Commentators differ on whether to accept the text “If a woman” or “A woman who.” The meaning, though, is almost the same. Paul was not referring to “a particular woman” but to any woman. He is talking about Christian women, so it is advisable to render this phrase as “if any Christian woman.”

Has a husband will be a more natural rendering in many languages than “is married to a man.”

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 .