covetousness, greed

The Greek that is translated in English as “greed” or “covetousness” (or “avarice”) is translated in these ways:

  • Zande: “having a big heart for everything” (source: Jan Sterk)
  • Akan: “close-fisted” (pɛpɛe) (source: J.E.T. Kuwornu- Adjaottor)
  • Tzeltal: “small-hearted”
  • Yucateco “desiring what other have”
  • Shipibo-Conibo; “going crazy for things” (source and two above: Nida 1952, p. 133f.)
  • Bariai: “rotten intestines” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “desiring peoples’ things” (source: Enggavoter 2004)

See also covet, extortioner / swindler, all who are greedy for gain, one who is greedy..

brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.”

See also brothers.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 9:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 9:5:

  • Uma: “That’s why I think I should send on ahead Titus and company going [to you], so that they can organize ahead of time the money gift that you promised. So, when I come, all will be ready. Then it will be clear that you are giving from the whiteness of your heart [i.e., graciously], not just because you were coerced.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore I told/requested those our (incl.) three brothers to go there ahead of me to help you so that when I arrive there the love-gift that you promised will be ready beforehand. Then it will be seen that you give from your love and not because you were entreated by me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because of this, I decided that it would be necessary to ask these three of our (incl.) brothers if it would be possible for them to go ahead of me, there to you, so that they might help you to prepare ahead of time that help which you promised. And then it will be possible that that will be prepared already when I come, and everybody will know that the reason that you give is not because you were forced to but rather, because it comes from the whiteness of your liver.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So I decided that it would be good if I sent-ahead these brothers of ours in order that they will help you in the collecting of what you promised so that it will be properly prepared when I arrive there. Because if we do that, it will be seen that what you give stems from your love, without your being forced.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That is why I have arranged with these siblings of ours to go ahead to you there, so that you will prepare right away that help that you promised. Well is it not so that, if it’s like that, the outcome will be that you will be happy in giving, not just being forced into it because of being selfish?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore I looked well upon our brothers first going ahead to greet you. These can remind you about the help you already promised to gather and then it will be ready when we arrive. It will be apparent then that by the help you give that you have pleasure in giving help. Then people will not be able to say that I have forced you to give help.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 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 2 Corinthians 9:5

So: this logical transition word may also be rendered “Therefore” (Anchor Bible and Barclay) or “That is why” (Moffatt and Knox).

The past tense used at the beginning of this verse (I thought) is called by scholars an “epistolary” aorist (see 7.14; 8.17). This means that the writer uses the past tense, in the perspective of the readers for whom the time of Paul’s actions will be in the past when they read his letter. If the past tense in the receptor language will indicate that Paul had already sent the brothers on to Corinth before writing these words, the use of the present tense may be better: “So I think it is necessary…” (though see comments on 2 Cor. 9.3). It is true, of course, that Paul continues to have this opinion. However, if in the receptor language the writer of a letter takes the point of view of the readers, the past tense may be preferred.

As in verse 3, Good News Translation says “these brothers,” since Paul is referring to persons whom he has already mentioned in chapter 8 (though see comments on 2 Cor. 9.3).

Arrange in advance: the verb so translated is found only in this verse but comes from a more frequently occurring verb that involves repairing, arranging, or putting things in order. An added prefix here indicates that the verbal action is done beforehand or in advance. Titus and his companions were to go ahead of Paul and make sure that the money promised was actually collected. God’s New Covenant translates “making things straight well in advance,” and New Century Version has “finish getting in order.”

This gift you have promised is literally “your promised blessing.” Though the Greek does not indicate to whom the promise was made, the context seems to indicate that they promised Paul.

An exaction: the verb that comes from the same root as this noun occurs in 2.11 and 7.2, where Revised Standard Version translates as “gaining an advantage over” someone and “take advantage of” someone. The New International Version translation “grudgingly given” perhaps fails to capture an important aspect of meaning. Paul wants the Corinthians to have the money ready before he arrives, lest it appear that he uses force or other inappropriate methods to obtain money from them. Perhaps a better translation is “an extortion” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), or “because I have forced you to give,” or “not as money wrung [or, squeezed] out of you” (Moffatt).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .