Pentecost

The Greek that is translated as “Pentecost” in English is translated in Huichol as “festival of the 7th week” It was rendered thus because the name of Pentecost would be equated with a sect only, and a harvest festival in late May would strain credibility. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Ephesus

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complete verse (1 Corinthians 16:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 16:8:

  • Uma: “For now, I’ll be here in the village of Efesus until the big day Pentakosta arrives.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But I will not be moving from here from Epesus until the feast Pentekostes is over.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I’ve decided that I will stay here in the town of Ephesus until the Feast of Pentecost and then I will leave.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Now however, I am staying here in Efeso until the fiesta called Pentecostes arrives,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But I’m thinking that I’ll stay here in Efeso till the Day of Pentecostes.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But now, I want to remain here in Ephesus until the feast of Pentecost.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:8

Stay in Ephesus: the word “here” (Good News Bible) is implied in the word stay.

Pentecost was the Jewish festival described in Lev 23.15-21, Num 28.26, 31, and called in Num 28.26 the “feast of weeks” (Good News Bible‘s “Harvest Festival”). There is no evidence that in Paul’s time Christians had any distinctive celebration at this time. An American Translation translates “the Harvest Festival” in this verse, but other translations have “Pentecost,” sometimes with an explanatory note.

“The day of” (Good News Bible) is implied here, though expressed in Acts 2.1; Pentecost was a one-day celebration. In some languages it may be advisable to translate “the festival of Pentecost” or more simply “the Harvest Festival,” for readers who may not otherwise recognize that Pentecost was a festival.

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 .