complete verse (Titus 2:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Titus 2:9:

  • Uma: “As for slaves, teach them to submit to their nobles in all ways, and to always do the will of their nobles. They should not answer back/argue,” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Teach/instruct the slaves/servants that they ought to obey/follow all their masters commands and they should please their masters. They ought not to contradict/talk back to their masters.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Teach the believers who are servants that they should obey the commands of their masters so that their masters might be pleased with their works. They must not be rebellious,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for the slaves moreover, advise them to submit-themselves-to (lit. cause-themselves-to-be-ruled-by) their masters in all that they do in order that their masters will be satisfied with them. They shouldn’t answer-back-to/argue-with them” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Teach the slaves who are believers that it’s necessary that they are obedient to their masters, and that they persevere to be pleasing to their master in their serving, not answering-back.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Tell those who are workers to obey their bosses when they give orders. They are not to answer back. They are to live so that their lives will be looked well upon.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Titus 2:9

Bid is not in the Greek text, which simply contains the infinitive form for “to be submissive.” However, a verb is needed in order to signal that these are still instructions to Titus and not direct admonitions to slaves. Translations therefore supply what they believe to be the appropriate verb; for example, “teach” (New International Version), “tell” (New Revised Standard Version); compare Phillips “Slaves should be told.” Good News Translation avoids the problem by using a third-person imperative form, “Slaves are to submit….”

For slaves see discussion on “slavery” in 1 Tim 6.1. Submissive also occurs in Titus 2.5 of this chapter, for which see discussion there. The Greek here can be either passive (so New International Version “be subject”) or more likely middle, hence reflexive (so Good News Translation “to submit themselves”).

For masters see 1 Tim 6.1 and 6.2.

To give satisfaction is literally “to be pleasing” (compare Good News Translation “to please”). As in verses 6-7, in every respect (literally “in everything”) can go either with the verb “to submit,” as the UBS Greek text has it (compare New American Bible, Revised “under the control of their masters in all respects,” also Translator’s New Testament, New Jerusalem Bible “obedient to their masters in everything,” Revised English Bible “respect their masters’ authority in everything”), or with “to be pleasing” (in addition to Good News Translation, also Phillips “to give them satisfactory service in every way,” Jerusalem Bible “always do what they want”). It is of course possible to relate “submit” to “please,” with submission being a specific way of pleasing (compare Contemporary English Version “please their owners by obeying them in everything”).

Refractory translates a verb that means “to speak against someone,” “to talk in opposition to someone,” “to answer back.” It would be very difficult for slaves to keep their peace, especially when they feel they are being treated unjustly by cruel and harsh masters.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Titus. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .