complete verse (Ephesians 1:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of Ephesians 1:21:

  • Uma: “That power/authority which he gave to Kristus, its bigness surpasses the power of all governors/rulers, all who have authority, all who are powerful, and all that are worshipped. The power/authority that he gave Kristus is bigger than all that receive high seats/authority, not just those who live at this time, but those who live in the future also.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Almasi is honored/made-great by God. He is greater than all rulers and all who have authority and (supernatural) power. His title is greater than all who have-been-given-titles not just in this world but up-to/including in the afterworld.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And there Christ is much higher than any king or master or anyone who has authority for rule. The title given to Christ is much greater than any title of anyone now, and forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That’s where-he-is-ruling now, and his rulership is higher than absolutely-all leaders and officials on this earth and all unseen ones in heaven who have rulership. There is absolutely no one who has highness/importance who is higher than he today and so also in the future (lit. addition of days).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therein we know that the highness/importance of this Cristo is really superior to the highness/importance of anyone else at all who exercises-control and has authority there in the atmosphere (i.e. between earth and heaven). No matter who/what people are calling on here under heaven, this Cristo is much more praiseworthy, not just at this time, but also in the future when the world and heaven/sky will be renewed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And this Christ was given the position that he be supreme, that he rule all those who have authority in heaven and here on earth, he rules the rulers and all the rest who have authority. That one is he who is before all others, all those who live in these days and also those who will live in the days to come, all are ruled by him.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Honorary "are" construct denoting God (“place”)

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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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, ok-are-ru (置かれる) or “place” is used.

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

Translation commentary on Ephesians 1:21

Verse 21 describes the supremacy of Christ as the ruler over all powers; the text in Greek continues without a break from verse 20, “above every rule…” etc. Most translators will find it better to begin the verse with a new sentence, as Good News Translation does. The four synonyms (Revised Standard Version “rule … authority … power … dominion”) indicate spiritual powers which are here not primarily regarded as evil, but which simply exist. In Jewish thought these powers were viewed as angels, of which there were ranks and degrees, or as spirits (evil); in Greek thought they were seen as lesser gods and powers. The author here takes their existence for granted and does not argue about it. See a similar list in Colossians 1.16, where the words appear in the plural; of the four words used here in Ephesians 1.21, three of them are also in the Colossians passage; the only difference is that Colossians has “throne” (first word) and Ephesians has “power” (third word).

It is good if translations will indicate, as Good News Translation has done, that these powers and authorities are spiritual, or heavenly. Since these were thought of as real beings and not simply as abstract forces at work, it may be necessary to say “those spirits (or, angels) in heaven that rule and have authority.”

In a number of languages it is not possible to distinguish neatly and clearly between rulers, authorities, powers, and lords. Moreover, it may not be easy to speak of “ruling there above.” However, the first part of verse 21 may be expressed in some instances as “there Christ rules with more authority than any and all who may rule in the sky.” It may be necessary to use “sky” rather than “heaven,” since the use of “heaven” would seem to imply that Christ was ruling over God.

To complete the list the writer adds “and every (other) name that is named not only in this age but also in the coming (age).” The word “name” here stands for titles of authority; see the same thought expressed in Philippians 2.9-11; Hebrews 1.4; 1 Peter 3.22.

In some languages the term for title is simply “the name for a task,” that is, a name which defines a function. Accordingly, he has a title superior to all titles of authority may be expressed as “the name which Christ has for his task is greater than any and all other such names.”

The Greek word translated world means “age,” and the expressions “this age” and “the coming age” define history in terms of time. In Jewish thought “the coming age” was the Messianic age in contrast with the present age, which is the age before the coming of the Messiah. The New Testament concept sees “this age” as essentially bad, under the power of evil spiritual beings or the Devil; “the coming age” is the one in which God, with Christ, will abolish the power of evil and reign supreme. The Greek word can also mean “world”; see Hebrews 1.2; 11.3; and so here the translation this world … the next is possible (Phillips and others). The whole phrase is meant to say, quite succinctly, “in every time and place”: nowhere at any time will there be any power greater than that which belongs to the exalted Christ.

There may be a number of problems involved in rendering in this world and in the next, since it may suggest a cosmology quite different from what is intended in the Greek text. One of the simplest equivalents of in this world and in the next is simply “now and for any time in the future” or “now and always” or “what now exists or what will exist.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .