complete verse (2 Corinthians 11:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 11:9:

  • Uma: “Once I had a lack at that time, but I didn’t make-a-request of you. For relatives from the land of Makedonia arrived bringing money that made-up my lack. I carefully guarded/watched-out that I not make-requests-of you at that time, so as to not make-it-hard-on you. And that’s what I will keep on doing, I won’t make-requests-of you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When I was there with you, when I had a need, I did not ask from you because my need was helped by our (incl.) brothers from Makedoniya. From formerly until the future I really will not ask anything from you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when I was there with you, if I needed some money I did not ask for anything from you, for our (incl.) brethren who came from the province of Macedonia, they gave me everything that I needed. As for you Greeks, I have never asked my livelihood from you and it also cannot be that I will ever ask anything from you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because when I lacked what I needed, I didn’t request from you, for there were brothers of ours who came-from Macedonia bringing what I needed. So I have never hardshipped you and likewise also (it will be) in future days.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, as-you-well-remember when I had lack there I didn’t bother anybody at all (with the problem), for some siblings in faith from Macedonia who had arrived helped me. Really right up to the present I am being very careful that I don’t become a bother/nuisance to you in anything. Hopefully I will indeed be able to continue to do like this.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When I was living there where you live there were times when I didn’t have anything to eat, yet I didn’t ask you for what I needed. It was those brothers who arrived from the land of Macedonia who gave me what I needed. Thus I did not ask you for what I needed, I never will ask you for what I need.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:9

In want refers in this context specifically to material needs such as food, money, and clothing. The term used here is related to the one for “wants” in 9.12, which is also the same word that is rendered needs later in this verse. Possibly financial needs are primary here, as Good News Translation makes explicit, “when I needed money.” But it may be best to use a more general word as in Greek. See for example New International Version, “when I … needed something.” Another version speaks of “my necessities.” And New Revised Standard Version uses the English idiom “if I ran short.” In other languages people may use verbs like “be lacking” or simply “want.” Still others may have more unusual expressions like “have an empty sack” or “lose one’s purse [or, money pouch].”

I did not burden any one: that is, Paul did not burden anyone among the Corinthian Christians. The same verb is used again in 12.13 and 14 but nowhere else in the New Testament. This idea may be expressed in a variety of ways: “I never asked you for anything at all,” “I was no encumbrance to anybody” (Moffatt), “I didn’t bother you” (Contemporary English Version).

The brethren who came from Macedonia: some languages will need to use a possessive pronoun with the word brethren: either “my brothers” or “our [not including the readers] brothers.” It is not clear whether these brothers were Paul’s co-workers Timothy and Silas (see Acts 18.5) or, less likely, whether they were Macedonian Christians. If the “brothers” were Christians from the churches in Macedonia, then women were perhaps included. In order not to exclude the possibility that women were included, New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible say “friends who came from Macedonia” and “friends from Macedonia.” Neither New Revised Standard Version nor Revised English Bible is satisfactory, however, since neither translation would normally be understood to refer to Paul’s co-workers. Perhaps a literal translation “the brothers” is preferable. Contemporary English Version has “some of the Lord’s followers.”

On Macedonia see 1.16 and 2.13.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .