tent-maker

The Greek in Acts 18:3 that is translated as “tent-maker” in English is translated as “work of sewing heavy cloth to become cloth houses” in Teutila Cuicatec, “work to make the houses of canvas in order to sell” in San Mateo del Mar Huave, as “they made cloth houses to sell” in Morelos Nahuatl, or as “make big cloth houses” in Lalana Chinantec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Acts 18:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 18:3:

  • Uma: “and he dwelt with them. They worked together, because Paulus’s work was the same as their work, making tents.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Because they had the same means of livelihood making tents, Paul stayed with them and helped them in their work.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “and then he went to live with them because their work was the same as his which is the making of canvas shelters.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and since he was the same as them in making tents, he-stayed-with and worked-with them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And because their livelihood was that they were makers of housing-material which could be folded up, he asked them that if possible at their place is where he would stay, for he also knew how to make those things. Therefore that’s where he stayed and was helping with that livelihood of theirs.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 18:3

Most translations assume that Paul earned his living by making tents, though some commentators (Moffatt, Barclay) understand the word to mean that Paul was a leather worker. Earned his living is translated in some languages as “earned money to buy food” or “by working making tents he received food and shelter.”

The expression just as they did may be rendered as “they also did the same kind of work” or “they also made tents.” In some languages it is necessary to specify that the making of these tents was not for their own use but in order to sell as a part of their trade. Therefore the translation may be rendered as “they made tents and sold them.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 18:3

18:3a–b

and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was: The word because introduces the reason for Paul to stay and work with Aquila and Priscilla (18:3b). For example:

He was also a tentmaker as they were, so he stayed and worked with them.
-or-
and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did (Good News Translation)

18:3a

he stayed and worked with them: The Greek tenses indicate that Paul did these things for some time.

he stayed: The word stayed indicates that he lived at Aquila and Priscilla’s house. For example:

he lodged with them (New Jerusalem Bible)

18:3b

they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was: At that time tents were made of leather or goat hair cloth. To make a tent, a tentmaker would buy the leather or cloth, cut it, sew the pieces together, attach ropes, buy poles, and other things. He would then sell his tents. Other ways to translate this clause are:

they made tents to earn money
-or-
they made tents to sell

In some languages this kind of temporary shelter is not known. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use the word for “temporary shelter” and indicate that this kind was made of leather. For example:

leather shelter
-or-
animal skin ⌊temporary⌋ house

• Use the common language word. If the word is not well known, you may want to include a picture or explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

At that time tents were made of leather or goat hair cloth.
-or-
At that time tents were made of leather or goat hair cloth. To make a tent, a tentmaker would buy the leather or cloth, cut it, sew the pieces together, attach ropes, buy poles, and other things. He would then sell his tents.

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