complete verse (1 Corinthians 14:38)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 14:38:

  • Uma: “But if they won’t believe these words of mine, don’t believe them!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If he does not pay attention to what I say here, don’t also pay attention to him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore, if he does not obey this then don’t you also listen to hear what he has to say.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But if he does not acknowledge it, neither is he to be (lit. even if he also is not) acknowledged.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The one who doesn’t acknowledge this, he also will not be acknowledged.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But if there be any person who says about me that I do not speak what is right, then also it must not be said that the word he speaks is right.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 14:38

This may be expanded to “this command.”

Both the text and the meaning of this verse are uncertain. The last word in the Greek, translated he is not recognized, may be either “he is not known” (the UBS Greek text), “let him not be known,” or even as in one manuscript “you do not know.” The meaning of the verb may be either “not know” or “not pay attention,” that is, “ignore.” In both cases the implied agent of the verb may be either the Corinthian Christians or God himself. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “God will not recognize him either.” New English Bible translates in a similar way (but not Revised English Bible). Most translations, however, interpret this passage to mean that Paul is referring simply to recognition by the congregation.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .