complete verse (Galatians 4:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 4:16:

  • Uma: “Do you think that I have become your enemy at this time because I have told you what is true?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Perhaps you wrongly-think that I oppose/am against you because I tell you the truth.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Why is it that you are angry with me today? Perhaps you have become my enemies only because I told you what the true doctrine was.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Why is it then that now, you count me as your enemy? Is it due to my having-told you the truth?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And well, now, will you reckon me to be your enemy because I am telling you the truth?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And now it seems that you even want to be my enemies because I tell you what is true.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

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 Galatians 4:16

The occasion of Paul’s telling the Galatians the truth is quite disputed. Among the suggestions are (1) it was during a second visit or in an unrecorded letter, in which he warned them of the apostasy they are now confronted with; or (2) the reference is to the present letter, in which case Paul is simply expressing his fears that the strong language of his letter may lead the Galatians to treat him as an enemy. The first possibilities involve conjectures with no evidence at all. Against the second one must note that the verb form of “become” implies a result which already exists (though the verbal forms are not conclusive), and the Galatians have not yet read the letter. A third suggestion may be brought forth, and that is to interpret truth as the message which Paul preached among the Galatians during his first visit to them. The message of Paul’s enemies is, of course, contrary to what he preached to the Galatians, and since the Galatians, or some of them, have already accepted the Judaizers’ message, they are questioning the accuracy of Paul’s gospel and his right to proclaim it. The word enemy then could be interpreted as hostility to Paul and his message. This fourth suggestion would fit the context best, though no modern commentary takes this line of interpretation.

It may be difficult to speak of Paul as having actually “become an enemy.” Obviously he is not in reality an enemy; it is only that he is suggesting the possibility that the people in the congregations in Galatia might regard him as such. Therefore it may be better to render this verse as “Because I tell you the truth, do you now regard me as your enemy?”, “Does my telling you the truth cause you to think of me as your enemy?”, or “… cause you to say, He is now our enemy?”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:16

4:16

Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as now introduces a conclusion in the form of a rhetorical question. This conclusion is based on 4:14–15. Another way to translate this conjunction is:

So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? (NET Bible)

Have I…become your enemy by telling you the truth?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to show the Galatians his disappointment and disbelief. From the beginning, he had told them the truth, and they treated him as their friend. But when they later rejected the true gospel that he taught and turned to a false gospel, they rejected him and his message. So, in effect, they considered Paul to be their enemy.

Some ways to translate this are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Can it be that I have become your enemy for telling you the truth? (God’s Word)
-or-
So you ?now? consider me to be your enemy because of that same truth I told you then?

• As a statement. For example:

I cannot believe that I have ?now? become your enemy by telling that truth.

by telling you the truth: From the beginning, Paul had taught the true gospel to the Galatians. This was in contrast to the false teaching that they heard from the false teachers.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

by telling you the true ?gospel?
-or-
because I spoke the truth to you
-or-
for telling you the truth

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