9and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the gentiles and they to the circumcised.
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is often translated as “gentiles” (or “nations”) in English is often translated as a “local equivalent of ‘foreigners,'” such as “the people of other lands” (Guerrero Amuzgo), “people of other towns” (Tzeltal), “people of other languages” (San Miguel El Grande Mixtec), “strange peoples” (Navajo (Dinė)) (this and above, see Bratcher / Nida), “outsiders” (Ekari), “people of foreign lands” (Kannada), “non-Jews” (North Alaskan Inupiatun), “people being-in-darkness” (a figurative expression for people lacking cultural or religious insight) (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and three above Reiling / Swellengrebel), “from different places all people” (Martu Wangka) (source: Carl Gross).
Tzeltal translates it as “people in all different towns,” Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “the people who live all over the world,” Highland Totonac as “all the outsider people,” Sayula Popoluca as “(people) in every land” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Chichimeca-Jonaz as “foreign people who are not Jews,” Sierra de Juárez Zapotec as “people of other nations” (source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), Highland Totonac as “outsider people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Uma as “people who are not the descendants of Israel” (source: Uma Back Translation), “other ethnic groups” (source: Newari Back Translation), and Yakan as “the other tribes” (source: Yakan Back Translation).
In Chichewa, it is translated with mitundu or “races.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “circumcise” or “circumcision” in English (originally meaning of English term: “to cut around”) are (back-) translated in various ways:
Tetelcingo Nahuatl: “put the mark in the body showing that they belong to God” (or: “that they have a covenant with God”)
Indonesian: disunat — “undergo sunat” (sunat is derived from Arabic “sunnah (سنة)” — “(religious) way (of life)”)
Ekari: “cut the end of the member for which one fears shame” (in Gen. 17:10) (but typically: “the cutting custom”) (source for this and above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
Hiri Motu: “cut the skin” (source: Deibler / Taylor 1977, p. 1079)
Garifuna: “cut off part of that which covers where one urinates”
Bribri: “cut the soft” (source for this and the one above: Ronald Ross)
Amele: deweg cagu qoc — “cut the body” (source: John Roberts)
Eastern Highland Otomi: “cut the flesh of the sons like Moses taught” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.)
Newari: “put the sign in one’s body” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 2:9:
Uma: “So, those [people] Yakobus, Petrus and Yohanes, who apparently were leaders of all the Kristen people in Yerusalem, they said: "It is indeed true, Paulus has indeed been called by the Lord Yesus to become his apostle." That is why we (excl.) shook hands, Barnabas and I with them Yakobus, Petrus and Yohanes. This shaking of hands was a sign that we (excl.) were united/agreed. Our(excl.) words were the same: that they preach to the Yahudi people, and we (excl.) preach to those who are not Yahudi people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “So then Yakub and Petros and Yahiya, they are the ones regarded as the leaders there, after/when they understood that I was commissioned by God, Barnabas and I were greeted (sinalam – take the hand then touch one’s own forehead and chest) by them, a sign that we (excl.) all had one work. We (excl.) planned/agreed that Barnabas and I proclaim to the not Yahudi tribes but/and they also/on-the-other-hand proclaim to the Yahudi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for James, Peter and John, those bosses there, when they understood that God had entrusted to me this work of mine, they shook our hands along with Barnabas as a sign that we (excl.) were all fellow companions in carrying out what God wants done. We (excl.) agreed that we (excl.) would be the ones to tell the news to the people who aren’t Jews and they would be the ones to tell the news to the Jews.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “but rather they agreed it was correct. Because they came-to-know that because of God’s grace/mercy, he had entrusted to me my apostleship to preach the good news to the Gentiles just like his entrusting to Pedro his apostleship to preach to the Jews. Their means-of-knowing that, it was that they saw that God had been blessing my preaching to the Gentiles just like his blessing Pedro’s work to/with the Jews. Therefore those-aforementioned who were considered to have authority who were Santiago and Pedro and Juan, they shook-hands-with Barnabas and me to show that we (excl.) exactly understood-one-another. What we (excl.) agreed-on was that Barnabas and I would continue to preach to the Gentiles while they also would continue to preach to the Jews.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore, those recognized as the highest-leaders of the overseers of the believers in Jerusalem, who are Santiago, Pedro, and Juan, when they observed that by the strength of the Lord’s grace/mercy to me, my teaching among the people who were not Jews had produced good results, they accepted Bernabe and me and it was acceptable to them that we were now included with them as workers in the work of the Lord. Well we (excl.) all-agreed-together that we (excl.) would continue on with our (excl.) teaching to the people who are not Jews. Those fellow Jews of ours(excl.), they would be their (responsibility).” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Therefore these three people, James, Peter and John, who lead in Jerusalem, knew then that God wanted that the good fortune should come to me that I do this work. Then we shook hands, a sign that we were in accord concerning the work we would do. It was decided then that I would go with Barnabas to speak the good news where the people who are not Jews live. They with whom I spoke would speak the good news to the Jews.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The leaders are finally identified as James, Peter, and John. James is probably the same as the one identified as the Lord’s brother in 1.19. John is probably the Apostle of that name, the brother of another James (Acts 12.1-2), one of the sons of Zebedee. The order of their names probably suggests their position in the Jerusalem church.
These three men are described as those who seemed to be the leaders (literally, a figurative expression “who are reputed to be pillars”), a description which most commentaries interpret as synonymous with similar expressions in 2.2 and 2.6. “Pillars” is a designation of those upon whom responsibility rests; it was used by Jews in speaking of the great teachers of the Law.
Recognized that God had given me this special task is literally “when they perceived the grace that was given to me.” Many interpreters understand this to be essentially synonymous with “I had been entrusted with the gospel” in verse 7. Others, however, understand “grace” to mean the favor or privilege which God has given to Paul in making him an apostle (compare Rom 1.5). The implicit subject of the expression (God) is made explicit in Good News Translation and other translations (for example, Phillips, New English Bible). Had given me this special task may be rendered as “had caused me to have this special work,” “had told me that this was my work to do,” or “had assigned me to this special work.”
It is particularly important to make clear the relation between the first part of this verse and what follows, namely, the fact that the leaders extended the hand of fellowship to Barnabas and Paul. This result is indicated by the conjunction so. In some languages it may be necessary to say “because of this,” “as a result of this,” or even “because they recognized this.”
They shook hands with Barnabas and me, as a sign that we were all partners is literally “they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.” The whole action means entering into a covenant, a binding agreement between two parties, a pledge that they will abide by what is agreed upon. “Fellowship” introduces the idea of partnership. While many translations retain the original expression, others restructure it to express its meaning more clearly (New English Bible “accepted Barnabas and myself as partners, and shook hands upon it”; Jerusalem Bible “shook hands with Barnabas and me as a sign of partnership”). In a number of languages, however, the fact of shaking hands does not necessarily indicate agreement. In fact, it may suggest merely that Paul and Barnabas were at the point of leaving. A more appropriate equivalent in some languages may be “they showed that they were in agreement with Barnabas and me,” “they showed that they agreed with us by shaking hands with us,” or “they made us partners by shaking hands with us.”
Partners may be expressed as “persons who were working together,” “persons who shared work,” or even “persons who saw that one another’s work was also good.”
The agreement itself involved a division of labor. Barnabas and I would work among the Gentiles and they among the Jews is literally “that we to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.” The implicit action may be “go” (as in most translations), “preach,” or the more inclusive expression (as in Good News Translation), work among.
It is not clear whether the division here described is territorial or racial. The problem is particularly complex because Jews were scattered in the so-called Gentile lands and there were many Gentiles living in Palestine. Does “Gentiles” mean Gentile lands or Gentile people, and does “circumcised” mean Jewish lands or Jewish people? It is possible that what is meant here is people and that the division is racial rather than territorial. But it is more likely that the meaning is that Paul would preach the gospel in Gentile lands, but to Gentiles and Jews, while Peter would work in the Jewish homeland, Palestine. In order to indicate the regional meaning involved, one may translate “we would work where the Gentiles mainly lived, and they where the Jews mainly lived.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
recognizing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as recognizing also means “knowing.” It indicates what the leaders knew and understood.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
perceived (English Standard Version) -or-
realized (Contemporary English Version) -or-
understood (New Century Version) -or-
saw (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
the grace that I had been given: Here the word grace means the “kindness,” “generosity” or “favor” that God gave/showed to Paul. God was kind to Paul in the sense that he had given him a special ministry. God gave him the gifts and power to be an apostle and spread the gospel.
In Greek this phrase is more literally “the grace having been given to me.” This is a passive clause. Some ways to translate this clause are:
• Use a passive clause. For example:
the favor that had been shown to me -or-
the kindness that had been given to me ?by God? ?to be an apostle?
• Use an active clause. For example:
God had given me this special task (Good News Translation) -or-
God was good to me ?and gave me the work of spreading the gospel?
See also grace, Meaning 3 in the Glossary.
2:9b
James, Cephas, and John: These three men were the leaders in the church at Jerusalem. James was the younger brother of Jesus. (Paul had already mentioned him in 1:19.)
Cephas is Peter’s Jewish name. Both names (Peter and Cephas) mean “rock” and refer to the same man. In your translation, you should use the more familiar name, Peter. For example:
James, Peter, and John (Contemporary English Version)
Peter and John were close disciples of Jesus while he was on earth.
those reputed to be pillars: This clause is a metaphor. It compares the leaders of the church to pillars.
A “pillar” is a huge stone post or wood column that supports the roof of a building. Paul compared the church leaders to pillars. They are similar in that both have a very important role in their respective structures. Pillars are a very important part of the building. The three men had much responsibility in the church.
Some possible ways to translate this metaphor are:
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
those men who were recognized as important/strong like pillars
• Use another idiomatic expression for leaders. For example:
these men are…the backbone of the church (Contemporary English Version)
• Translate the meaning. For example:
the most important people (God’s Word)
those reputed: This is the fourth time that Paul used the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as reputed to refer to the church leaders. See what word(s) you used in 2:2b and 2:6a. As mentioned there, this term refers to the men who were “recognized” as important leaders of the church.
Some other ways to translate this are:
who had a reputation (NET Bible) -or-
those esteemed (New International Version (2011)) -or-
who were known (New Living Translation (1996))
2:9c
gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship: This clause means that James, Peter, and John shook the hands of Paul and Barnabas. Shaking hands was a cultural action that showed that these three men agreed that they were partners together with Paul in ministry. It showed that the leaders agreed with Paul and Barnabas, accepted them, and supported them.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
they shook hands with Barnabas and me, agreeing to be our partners (God’s Word) -or-
they shook hands with Barnabas and me to show that we were companions in God’s work
In some cultures, shaking hands may not show that people agree with one another. If that is the case in your language, you may need to translate the meaning directly. For example:
they told/showed Barnabas and me that they agreed with us and were partners with us
If you do this, you should include a footnote saying that they actually shook hands to show their partnership.
2:9d
so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised: This clause shows what the agreement was between the leaders and Paul and Barnabas. They would be partners in the work of spreading the gospel, but they would work among different groups of people.
In some languages, it will be good to make clear that this clause gives the content of the agreement. Some ways to do that are:
We agreed that Barnabas and I would work among the Gentiles and they among the Jews. (Good News Translation) -or-
They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. (New Living Translation (2004))
we…they: The pronoun we refers to Paul and Barnabas. The pronoun they refers to Peter, James, and John.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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