The Greek that is translated as “what large letters I make” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with wie schwerfällig ich schreibe or “how clumsily I write.”
complete verse (Galatians 6:11)
Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 6:11:
- Uma: “Notice! This part of the letter I am writing with my own hand. You see yourselves that my writing is bigger than normal.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Look, at this big writing. I am the one writing this here at the end of this letter of mine.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Here at the last of the letter that I am sending to you, I Paul am the one writing. You can identify it because you can see how big is my writing.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “I myself have written this conclusion of the letter. Look at the largeness of its letters!” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Well now, in this last part, I myself am writing. (The) proof (of that is), the letters I am writing are big.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “I, Paul, see the large letters I myself am writing now.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
behold / look / see (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 or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-ran (ご覧), a combination of “behold / see” (ran) and the honorific prefix go-.
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
See also Japanese benefactives (goran).
formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
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 6:11
Paul begins this section by calling attention to (1) the fact that he is doing the writing himself and (2) his large handwriting.
There is no unanimity of opinion as to what parts of the letter are written by Paul and what parts by a scribe. Some scholars believe the whole letter was written by Paul and that the big letters are a form of emphasis, similar to the modern practice of italicizing or underscoring.
In view of the fact, however, that it was apparently Paul’s practice to employ a scribe (for example, Rom 16.22), it seems better to assume that it is only at this point in the letter that Paul picks up the pen. This seems to be a regular part of Paul’s letters, as can be deduced from its presence in other letters (2 Thes 3.17; 1 Cor 16.21; Col 4.18). The purpose is apparently to authenticate the letter as genuine. This position is made clear in some translations, including Good News Translation (Jerusalem Bible “Take good note of what I am adding in my own handwriting”; New English Bible “You see these big letters? I am now writing to you in my own hand”).
As to the purpose of the big letters, there is a variety of opinion. As already noted, this may be a form of emphasis, calling attention to the important points which are about to be made. Or it may be a deliberate attempt on Paul’s part to distinguish his own handwriting from that of his scribe. A third possibility is that Paul’s handwriting is simply awkward in comparison with the experienced handwriting of the scribe, in which case the statement contains the element of an apology. The last of these explanations is attractive, but the word for big simply denotes size and not irregularity or ugliness. All things considered, the first possibility is probably the closest to Paul’s intention.
In view of the fact that those who were to receive the letter were not personally present when Paul was writing, it may be better to employ an expression such as “You can see what big letters I make” rather than the direct imperative See what big letters.
As I write to you now with my own hand may be best expressed in some languages as “as I myself am now writing to you,” or “… am now using the pen.”
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 6:11
Section 6:11–18
Paul repeated his warning not to listen to false teachers
This section is Paul’s conclusion to his letter. In this section he again contrasted circumcision and true faith. Those who teach that believers must be circumcised have a false basis for boasting. The only true basis for boasting is Christ’s death on the cross. Through the cross, believers are new creations in Christ. That is what matters. The Galatians should follow these truths. They must not follow false teachers who want to add circumcision to faith.
Paul ended his letter with a blessing/prayer.
Some other possible headings for this section are:
Final Warning and Benediction (English Standard Version)
-or-
Paul’s Final Advice (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Paul Summarizes His Teachings About Circumcision (God’s Word)
Paragraph 6:11–16
6:11
See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!: This clause indicates that at this point in the letter to the Galatians, Paul himself started to write. Up to this point, Paul had an assistant write what he told him to write. This is what he normally did. The main purpose for Paul to start to write here with his own hand was to prove that he was indeed the person behind this letter.
Some other ways to translate this verse are:
See what big letters I make as I write to you now with my own hand! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Notice how big my writing is. I have written these words myself.
-or-
I myself am writing the last part of this letter. You can see it by the large letters that I am using.
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