Philemon 1:23 - 25 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Philemon 1:23-25 into Mexican Sign Language with back-translations into Spanish and English underneath:


© La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)

El hombre que se llama Epafras, que predicaba Jesucristo y fue arrestado y metido en la cárcel y está aquí en la cárcel conmigo, y también Marcos, Aristarco, Demas y Lucas, cinco compañeros en la predicación, me dijeron que te saluda, Filemón. El señor Jesucristo les dé gracia.


The man named Epaphras who preached Christ Jesus and was arrested and put in prison and is here in prison now, together with me, as well as Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, these five companions in preaching the gospel, have told me to greet you, Philemon. The Lord Jesus Christ give you grace.

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

<< Philemon 1:21-22 in Mexican Sign Language

complete verse (Philemon 1:24)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:24:

  • Uma: “Receive also the greeting of my one-work companions Markus, Aristarkhus, Demas and Lukas.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And Markus, Aristarkus, Damas and Lukas, my companions here working for God also send word like that.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Greetings are also sent to you from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. They are my partners here in what God has for us to do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So also my fellow workers Marcos, Aristarkus, Demas and Lucas.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Also Marcos, Aristarco, Demas, and Lucas, who are my fellow workers in the work of the Lord, they also greet you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Mark, and Aristarchus, and Demas, and Luke, these men who work helping me to speak the message, they also greet you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Performing Philemon from a Caribbean Perspective

The following is a translation for a performance of the book of Philemon in Papiamento and its English translation. The translation is interspersed with a provocative fictional response by the historical character of Tula, the Curaçaoan revolt leader of 1795, juxtaposing the subtle liberating message of Paul with a revolutionary approach. This is followed by a video showing the performance:

1 Esaki ta karta
1 This is [a] letter

di Pablo,
from Paul,

i di ruman Timoteo,
From sibling Timothy

Pablo prezu pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus;
Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ-Jesus

ta pa Filemon, kompañer’i trabou,
it is for Philemon, fellow of work

2 ta pa Iglesia, reuní na su kas.
2 It is for the church, gathered at his house

Karta tambe pa Apfia, nos ruman muhé,
Letter also to Apphia, our sibling female

Karta tambe pa Argipo, kompañer’i lucha.
Letter also for Archippus fellow of fight

Click or tap here to see the rest of this translation as well as the video performance

3 Dios nos Tata, duna boso
3 God the Father give you

Señor Hesu-Kristu duna boso
Lord Jesus-Christ give you

grasia i pas.
grace and peace

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Lesa mi ta lesa den karta sagrado
     Read I do read in holy letter

     Ta ku masha kachèt mester kumindá bo
     (that) with lots of respect you have to be greeted

     Pa kombensébo ku hende ta util
     (so as to) convince you that (a) human being is useful

     Hende ta mas k’util.
     (A) Human being is more than useful

4 Mi Dios mi ta gradisí,
4 My God I do thank

Ora mi kòrdabo den mi orashon,
When I remember you in my prayer

5 pasobra hopi fe den Señor Hesus bo tin
because lots of faith in (the) Lord Jesus you have

Segun mi a tende,
From what I hear

Stimashon pa Dios su pueblo bo tin.
Love for God his people you have.

6 Mi ta resa, pa e fe
I pray for the faith

ku bo ta kompartí ku otro kreyente,
that you share with other believers,

hiba na komprondementu berdadero di tur kos bon
lead to understanding true of all good things

ku pa Kristu nos por hasi.
that for Christ we can do

7 Mi ruman, bo amor
7 My sibling, your love

a hasi mi mashá kontentu
has made me very happy

kurashá mi hopi,
encouraged me a lot

pasobra el a sirbi pa animá kurason di e rumannan.
Because he has to animate (the) heart of the siblings.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ta trasta mester trasta ku bo
     Flatter has to flatter you

     Hunta stropi na bo boka
     Put honey at your mouth

     Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal robes
     So as to say that you are badly wrong

     Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal brua
     So as to say that you are badly confused

8 P’esei derecho mi tin di bisa bo kiko hasi,
8 That is why with what right I have to tell you what to do,

Ora mi apelá na Kristu.
When I appeal to Christ.

9 Tòg a base di amor,
9 Though on (the) basis of love,

un petishon mi ta preferá hasi na bo.
A petition I prefer to do to you.

Ami, Pablo un hòmber bieu kaba,
I, Paul a man old already

asta prezu awor pa kousa di Kristu
even imprisoned now for (the) cause of Christ

10 Mi ke pidi bo pa mi yu Onésimo;
10 I want to ask you for my son Onesimus;

ta den prisón mi a bira su tata spiritual.
it is in prison that I have become his spiritual father.

11 Un tempu e no tabata sirbi bo pa nada,
11 A time he was not useful for anything

pero awor el a bira útil pa nos tur dos,
but now he has become useful to two of us,

manera su nòmber mes ta nifiká.
just as his name means.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Pachi7 Pablo pone preshon
     Old man Paul put pressure

     Pachi Pablo no papia ko’I kèns
     Old man Paul do not speak foolishness

     Ku trabou’i katibu n’ ta bal nada
     (to say) that work of slave is not worth anything

     Ku mi t’ei djis pa ta “util.”
     That I am (exist) just to be “useful”

12 Mi ta mand’é bèk pa bo;
12 I am sending him back to you

ta manera mi kurason mes
as if my heart itself

mi ta ranka saka manda pa bo!
I rip out and send to you!

13 Gana di ten’é serka mi, mi tin
13 Desire to have him with me, I have

pa e por a yuda mi na bo lugá,
so that he can help me in your place

tanten mi ta prezu pa kousa di e bon notisia.
while I am imprisoned for the cause of the good news.

14 Sinembargo mi no ke hasi nada sin bo aprobashon,
14 Although I do not want to do anything without your approval

pa bo no haña bo ta hasi un bondat fòrsá,
so you will not find yourself doing a good, forced,

ma dje manera akí bo por hasié di bo mes boluntat.
but in this way you can do it from your own will.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ai malai ai malai ei
     (lamentation sound)

     Ai malai ai malai ei
     (lamentation sound)

     Si bo tabata konosé doló di katibu
     If you do not know (the) pain of slave(s)

     Pablito lo bo no a saka bo shiri shiri,
     (Dear) Paul (diminutive)
     you would not have to take out your guts,

     Bo yu sin doló, mand’é bèk.
     your child-without-pain to send him back.

15 Por ta mashá bon:
15 Could be very well:

pa un tempu el a alehá for di bo,
For a time he has gone away from you,

djis pa bo hañ’é bèk pa semper.
Just so you can find him back for ever.

16 Pasobra awor e no ta djis un simpel katibu:
16 Because now he is not just a simple slave:

mas ku un katibu e ta un ruman stimá.
More than a slave he is a beloved sibling.

Anto spesialmente pa mi, e ta mashá stimá!
And especially for me, he is very well loved.

Pero pa abo: mas stimá ainda, komo katibu i komo ruman den Señor.
And for you more: more loved, as a slave/servant and as sibling in (the) Lord.

17 Ke men si bo tin mi pa kompañero,
17 That is to say if you have me for (a) collaborator,

risibí Onésimo manera lo bo a risibí mi mes.
receive Onesimus as you would have received me.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Di Adam ku Eva nos ta bini.
     From Adam and Eva we come

     Boso Buki mes ta bisa.
     Your Book itself says it

     Si nos tur ta bin di tera,
     If we all can come from the earth

     T’un lokura abusá di esun
     It is a madness to abuse

     ku ta puluwé den tera.
     the one who plows the earth.

18 Si el a perhudiká bo den ki forma ku ta
18 If he has damaged you in whatever manner

òf si e ta debe bo algu,
or if he owes you something

laga esei pa mi kuenta.
leave that for to my account.

19 Awor mi mes man ta skibi esaki:
19 Now my own hand writes this:

‘Ami, Pablo, ta paga bo bèk!’
“I, Paul, will pay you back!”

Mi n’ tin nodi’ kòrda bo ku bo debe serka mi ta bo mes!
There is no need for me to remind me that your debt with me is yourself!

20 Sí, mi ruman, hasi mi e fabor akí pa Señor;
20 Yes, my sibling, do this favor for me for (the) Lord;

animá mi kurason komo ruman den Kristu!
animate my heart as sibling in Christ!

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Esta kurashi!
     What (a) boldness!

     Esta tribí!
     What audacity!

     Paga bèk, …..paga bèk??? paga bèk!!!
     Pay back,……pay back???? Pay back!!!

     Sinbèrguensa ta bo mester paga bèk.
     (You-without-shame) you have to pay back.

     Paga bèk, t’a bo mester duna bèk.
     Pay back, you have to pay back.

     Ladron di alma, ladron di bida, ezè chupadó di sanger!
     Soul robber, life robber, blood sucking vampire!

21 Sigur mi ta skibi,
21 For sure I write,

Sigur mi ta ku bo ta skucha mi.
For sure I know that you hear me.

I mi sa ku lo bo bai mas leu ku loke mi ta pidibo.
And I know that you will go beyond what I ask you.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Changa el a changa bo Filemon
     Cornered he has cornered you Philemon.

     Komader Liberté na banda suit.
     Kamader9 Freedom to the south.

     Kompader Fraternité na banda nòrt.
     Kompader Brotherhood to the north

     I kompèr Egalité no ta bèk ni ost ni west.
     And kompèr Equality does not retreat, neither to the east nor to the west.

22 Ahan, . . . prepará un lugá pa mi keda,
22 Aha, . . . prepare a place for me to stay,

pasobra mi ta spera ku Dios lo skucha
because I expect that God will hear,

skucha boso orashon
will hear your (pl.) prayer(s)

i entregá mi bèk na boso.
and give me back to you.

23 Kumindamentu di Epafras, prizonero huntu ku mi,
23 Greetings from Epaphras, prisoner together with me,

pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus.
for the cause of Christ-Jesus.

24 Kumindamentu di esnan ku ta traha huntu kumi:
24 Greetings from those who work together with me:
Marko,
Aristargo,
Demas
i Lukas.

25 Grasia di Señor Hesu-Kristu sea ku boso.
25 Grace of (the) Lord Jesus-Christ be with you (pl.).

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ta kua grasia por ta ku bo?
     Which grace can be with you?

     Hòmber kitadó di libertad,
     Man-robber-of-freedom,

     Ta kua Hesus a bendishoná
     Which Jesus has blessed,

     Bo kruel definishon di humanidat?
     Your cruel definition of humanity?

     Ta kua Dios, Spiritu puru,
     Which God, pure Spirit,

     B’a mira sklavisá niun hende.
     Have you seen enslave anybody?

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku ta kultura.
     Don’t care that it is culture.

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku ta di bo mes koló
     Don’t care that it is people of your color.

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku evolushon.
     Don’t care for evolution(ary change)

     P’esei m’a muri den revolushon!
     That’s why I died in a revoluton!

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon


Source: Marlon Winedt in The Bible Translator 2015, p 3ff.

Translation commentary on Philemon 1:23 – 1:24

The five men here named are also named in Colossians: Epaphras (Col 1.7-8, 4.12-13), Mark and Aristarchus (Col 4.10), and Demas and Luke (Col 4.14). It is strange that Jesus/Justus (Col 4.11) is omitted here, and it has been conjectured that the Greek text en Christō Iēsou, Markos “in Christ Jesus, (and) Mark” was originally (or was originally meant to be) en Christō, Iēsous, Markos “in Christ, (and) Jesus, Mark.” No translation, however, has adopted this conjecture, not even as a possible variant reading in the margin.

Epaphras is a “fellow prisoner” (Revised Standard Version) of Paul’s (as Aristarchus is called in Col 4.10) for the sake of Christ Jesus, that is, because of his Christian work. Who is in prison with me may expressed as “who is in prison here were I am in prison,” and for the sake of Christ Jesus may be rendered as “because he has told the good news about Christ Jesus” or “because he has preached about Christ Jesus.”

Sends you: the you is here singular, meaning Philemon. Sends you his greetings may be expressed in a number of ways: “says he wants you to know that he thinks of you,” or “wants to tell you he wishes you well,” or “wants you to know that he wants the best for you.”

For fellow workers see Philemon 1.1 (and Col 4.11). And so do my fellow workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke may be expressed as “those who work with me, namely, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke also want me to tell you that they wish you well.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philemon 1:24

24

as do: This means “these others also send you greetings.”

Mark: This was John Mark, the Jewish Christian who wrote the Gospel of Mark. (Acts 12:25).

Aristarchus: Another Jewish Christian who was there with Paul was Aristarchus. His hometown was Thessalonica. (Acts 19:29).

Demas: Demas was a Gentile Christian, not a Jew. Bible scholars don’t know if this was the same Demas who later left Paul (2 Timothy 4:10).

Luke: This was the same Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He was a Gentile Christian and a medical doctor (Colossians 4:14).

my fellow workers: These four men were working together with Paul, helping him in various ways to help people know about the Good News (see verse 1). Notice that Paul did not say they were his “fellow prisoners,” as he said about Epaphras (verse 23). These four men were free to continue working with Paul to spread the Gospel, even though he himself was in prison.

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