mind

The Greek that is typically translated as “mind” in English is translated in Warao as obojona, a term that “includes the concepts of consciousness, will, attitude, attention and a few other miscellaneous notions.” (Source: Henry Osborn in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 74ff. )

In Elhomwe it is often translated as “heart,” “because all thoughts come from heart in Elhomwe thought.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See other occurrences of Obojona in the Warao New Testament.

complete verse (Romans 14:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 14:5:

  • Uma: “There are also people who say certain days are more appropriate for us to-worship-on. Yet some say that all days are just the same. The main thing is: every one of us must really believe in his heart that God approves of what he does.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There are people they regard/consider that one day is greater than the other days. There are also people they regard/consider the days as alike. You (pl.) ought to each one be sure as to what is your thinking.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In the same way also, one person considers that there are days which are precious to God, and another also considers that God does not consider any day more precious than another. It’s necessary that each one is convinced that what he thinks and does is the right thing to do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There are also those who count one day as more-valuable than the other days, while others say there is no day which is to be differentiated as more-valuable. Concerning this, the mind of each one must not doubt that what he is doing is right.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There are some believers who say that there is one day which is more holy that other days. And also there are others who say that all the days are equal. Therefore each of the believers, concerning the word which they understand to be good, that is the word they should do.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Romans 14:5

The structure of this verse is similar to that of verse 2; in both verses Paul contrasts the attitude of the man who is weak in faith with the attitude of the man who is strong in faith. In verse 3 Paul referred first to the man who is strong in faith; in verse 5 he refers first to the man who is weak in faith.

Since more than one individual is involved in thinking that one day is more important than another, it is often necessary, instead of one man thinks … to translate “Some people think that a certain day is more important than other days, while other people think that all days have the same value.”

It is impossible to state definitely what days Paul has in mind. He may be referring to the tendency of the Jewish Christians to continue to observe the Sabbath day, but it is also possible that he is referring to special days which other groups felt must be observed for religious purposes. For similar passages see Galatians 4.10 and Colossians 2.16.

Although the sense of the last sentence of verses 5, each one should have his own mind firmly made up, is quite evident, it is not always easy to translate such an expression into another language. In some instances this may be done as “each one should be convinced that what he thinks is right,” “each one should be sure as to why he thinks as he does,” or “each one should be able to say to himself, This is surely what it should be.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .