complete verse (Galatians 4:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 4:18:

  • Uma: “It’s good if there are some who want to win you over. Not only while I am with you, also in my absence it is always good if there are those who want to win you over, as long as their purpose is good. [alternate we used but later decided was too far from the literal (sigh!): It does not hurt my heart [i.e., I am not upset] if there is someone who becomes your friend in my absence. It’s fine with me if there is someone who is trying to win you over–as long as their purpose is good.]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “It is really good if people are concerned about their companions as long as their purpose is only good as to why they are concerned. And you should be concerned whether I am there with you or whether I am not there.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Their being friends with you is very good if their purpose is not bad. It’s my desire that I’m not the only one who makes friends with you. When I’m not there it’s good if there is someone else to be friends with you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The concern of a person for his fellow-man is admittedly proper provided his motives are good, like the way you were with me, but you should always have-concern, not only when I am with you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Now admittedly it’s not bad that you are being valued, as long as there is no evil ulterior-motive. And your valuing me in the past, hopefully you will still continue it even though I am not there with you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Well it is good if someone wants to help you, but they must live to do what is good when they do it. I also want to help you, but not only when I am there with you, do I want to help you, but also always I want to help you.” (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 Galatians 4:18

The first part of this verse seems to be a general principle which is in direct contrast to the attitude of the false teachers. Accordingly, many translations, including Good News Translation, interpret the verse in this manner (Jerusalem Bible “it is always a good thing to win people over, and I do not have to be there with you, but it must be for a good purpose”; New English Bible “it is always a fine thing to deserve an honest envy—always, and not only when I am present with you”). The phrase if the purpose is good may be rendered “provided what one intends to accomplish is good,” or “only if what one is trying to do is good.”

The last part of the verse, and not merely when I am with you, seems to be out of place if the first part is indeed a general principle. Accordingly, various interpretations are offered, all centering on the referents of the phrase to have such a deep interest. If the object is the Galatians, then the subject could either be Paul himself or men in general (Phillips “don’t think I’m jealous—it is a grand thing that men should be keen to win you”; New American Bible “it would be well for you to be courted for the right reasons at all times, and not only when I happen to be with you”). If the object is Paul, then there is only one possible subject, namely, the Galatians themselves, as seems to be implied by Knox (“your jealousy should be for the honourable gifts you see in a man of honour; always, not only when I am at your side”).

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 4:18

4:18a

it is good to be zealous: There are several ways to interpret the Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as it is good to be zealous. The two main ones are:

(1) It is passive. It is always good for the Galatians to be shown interest in by other people. To state it in an active way, it is good when other people show an interest in the Galatians. For example:

It is good for people to show interest in you (New Century Version)

(English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It is middle with an active sense. It is good when the Galatians show an interest in issues. For example:

It is…good to give your attention to something worthwhile (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (1996), New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul was saying that it is fine if other people show an interest in the Galatians, but their motives must be good. The motives of the false teachers were not good. So Paul warned the Galatians not to trust them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

• As a passive. For example:

It is…good to be made much of (English Standard Version)
-or-
It is good when you are shown a deep interest in ?by someone?

• As an active. For example:

It is good when ?someone? shows a deep interest in you
-or-
It is good when ?people? show concern for you

if it serves a noble purpose: This phrase refers to a person’s motive/intentions. It is the opposite of “not in a good way” in 4:17a.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

but only if their purpose is good (New Century Version)
-or-
if their motives are good

4:18b

at any time, and not only when I am with you: This clause indicates that it is good for people to show real concern for the Galatians at all times. It should not only happen when Paul is with them. And it should not only be Paul who shows concern for them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

all the time, not just when I’m with you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

?This should happen? even when I am not with you.

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