flesh (human nature)

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The Greek that is often translated as “flesh” in English (when referring to the lower human nature) can, according to Nida (1947, p. 153) “very rarely be literally translated into another language. ‘My meat’ or ‘my muscle’ does not make sense in most languages.” He then gives a catalog of almost 30 questions to determine a correct translation for that term.

Accordingly, the translations are very varied:

The Toraja-Sa’dan translation uses a variety of terms for the translation of the same Greek term (click or tap here to see the rest of this insight)

  • A form of kale tolinona or “corporeal” is for instance used in Romans 9:5 or Colossians 1:22 (and also in Genesis 6:3 and Exodus 30:32)
  • A form of mentolinona or “the human” is for instance used in Matthew 16:17 or John 1:14
  • Phrases that include pa’kalean or “bodiliness” (also: “human shape”) are for instance used in Romans 6:6 or 1 Peter 2:11 (as well as in Isa 52:14, Isa 53:2, and Lamentations 4:7

(Source: H. van der Veen in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 207ff. )

See also spirit / flesh, old self, and flesh (John 1:14).

complete verse (Galatians 4:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 4:29:

  • Uma: “At that time, Abraham’s child who was born like an ordinary child persecuted his younger brother who was born according to God’s promise. So also it happens at this time: people who want to force us to follow the Law of Musa persecute us who follow the will of the Holy Spirit.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “At that time also, the child born as is done in the world/on the earth, Isma’el, he caused difficulty to the child born because of the power of God’s Spirit. Likewise we (incl.) now are really caused difficulty by the ones who are enslaved to the law written by Musa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And at that time long ago, as for that child of Abraham that was born only by means of the world-type way of having children, he caused difficulty for his younger brother who was born by means of the help of the Holy Spirit. And in the same way also, we (incl.) are given a hard time by those people who are enslaved by observing the Law.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Back then also, the child whose birth was not amazing, he hardshipped Isaac who was born by-means-of the power of the Spirit of God. Likewise also now, because those who are enslaved by the law, they hardship us.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “However just like in that former time when, that one who had been born by the supernatural-power of the Espiritu Santo, he was hardshipped by that one who had been born because of the plan of people, it’s just like that now. For those who have been adopted by God because of their belief in Cristo, they are being opposed by the ones who are still enslaved by their obedience to the laws of Moises.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When it happened according to the word promised by God, the Holy Spirit caused Isaac to be born. But the son of Hagar was angry at him and persecuted Isaac. It is like that with us, those who say that they do what is written in the law persecute us.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Spirit (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-tama (御霊) or “Spirit (of God)” in the referenced verses.

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

See also Holy Spirit

Translation commentary on Galatians 4:29

In the relationship between the two sons of Abraham, Paul finds an allegorical reference to the relationship between the Jews, particularly the false teachers, and the Christians, particularly the Galatian believers.

The son who was born in the usual way (literally, “the one born according to the flesh,” as in verse 23) refers to Ishmael, and the one who was born because of God’s Spirit refers to Isaac. For God’s Spirit, the Greek simply has “spirit,” and while some translations take this in the sense of “spiritual” (New English Bible, Phillips, Knox, New American Bible), it is in accordance with Pauline usage to take this as referring to the Holy Spirit (Good News Translation, Jerusalem Bible). The switch from “promise” (verses 23,28) to “spirit” reminds us of the language of chapter 3.

As in the case of verse 23, it is important to render the son who was born in the usual way in a manner which will not suggest some physical aspect of birth. In this context it may be necessary in some languages simply to say “At that time Abraham’s son by means of Hagar persecuted the son who was born because of what God’s Spirit had said,” or “… because of what God’s Spirit had done.” The Greek text simply says “according to spirit,” but since the focus has been upon the birth of Isaac resulting from the promise of God, it is quite legitimate to fill out the semantic ellipsis by indicating that the birth took place as “the result of what God’s Spirit had promised,” or “… caused to happen.”

The final clause and it is the same now refers either to the persecution or to the type of personalities involved. One may therefore say “and the same kind of persecution takes place now,” or “there are the corresponding kinds of persons even now.”

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 4:29

4:29

In 4:29, Paul used a story from the Old Testament to represent what was happening in Galatia. The story from the Old Testament is about Abraham’s two sons Ishmael and Isaac. He called Ishmael “the son born according to the flesh.” Ishmael represents the false teachers. Ishmael persecuted Isaac, who was born “by the Spirit.” In the same way, the false teachers were persecuting the believers in Galatia.

In some languages, it may be more natural to make parts of this verse explicit. Compare the Berean Standard Bible and the New Living Translation (2004) below.

a At that time, however, b the son born by the flesh c persecuted the son born by the Spirit. d It is the same now. (Berean Standard Bible)

d But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, a just as Ishmael, b the child born by human effort, c persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. (New Living Translation (2004))

4:29a

At that time: This phrase introduces a comparison between what happened at the time of Isaac and what was happening in Galatia.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Just like at that time
-or-
And what happened then
-or-
just as at that time (English Standard Version)

however: There is some contrast between 4:28 and 4:29. The contrast is between the way we would expect people to treat the children of promise and the way they actually treat them. The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as however.

Another way to introduce 4:29 is:

But

Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

4:29b

the son born by the flesh: This clause refers to Abraham’s son Ishmael. He was the son of Hagar. Here Ishmael represents the false teachers.

The phrase by the flesh refers to the fact that the child was conceived and born in the normal, human way. Abraham tried to fulfill God’s promise on his own. He did that by taking the slave woman Hagar and having a child with her. It is the same phrase that Paul used in 4:23a.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The son who was born in the normal way (New Century Version)
-or-
he who was born in a human attempt to fulfill God’s promise
-or-
the son of Hagar who was born because of the plan of people
-or-
the one who had only a natural birth

See flesh, Meaning 5 in the Glossary for more information.

4:29c

persecuted: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as persecuted means “cause to suffer.”

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

made trouble (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
treated…badly (New Century Version)
-or-
caused to suffer
-or-
was cruel to

This verb also occurs in 1:13b

the son born by the Spirit: This clause refers to Isaac. Here Isaac represents the believers in Galatia.

The phrase by the Spirit refers to the fact that Isaac was born because of God’s promise to Abraham. God’s Spirit allowed the elderly Sarah to become pregnant. Believers, who are also children of the promise, receive life through God’s Spirit.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

him who was born because of ?the work of? the Spirit
-or-
him who was born by means ?of the power/help? of God’s Spirit
-or-
Isaac, the one who came by means of the Spirit fulfilling God’s promise

the Spirit: This phrase refers to the Spirit of God.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

the Holy Spirit
-or-
the Spirit of God

See Spirit, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

4:29d

It is the same now: This clause states that the situation between Ishmael and Isaac was similar to the situation in Galatia. The Galatian believers, like Isaac, were persecuted by those who were slaves to the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

That’s exactly what’s happening now. (God’s Word)
-or-
The same thing is happening today. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
It is the same today. (New Century Version)
-or-
It’s just like that now.

In some languages, it will be more natural to put this phrase with 4:29a. For example:

a What happened then d is like what is happening now.

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