whitewashed wall

The Greek that is translated in English as “(you) whitewashed wall” is translated in Lalana Chinantec much more specifically as “you are like a masonry wall on which they have put white paint. It is no longer evident what it is like inside.” (Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation, March 1965, p. 2ff.).

The same is translated as “deceiver” in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac, as “you talk up above (not from the heart)” in Eastern Highland Otomi, as “you change words (you are a hypocrite)” in Morelos Nahuatl, as “you are not what you appear to be, like a wall that is white washed” in Huichol, as “you two faced person” in Mezquital Otomi, or “you who make your face broad” in Rincón Zapotec. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Paul (icon)

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also Paul.

Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also Paul (icon).

complete verse (Acts 23:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 23:3:

  • Uma: “Paulus retorted: ‘May God slap you (sing.) as well [curse formula], you (sing.) are just good the outside! You (sing.) sit over there, wanting to decide my case according to the Law of Musa, yet you (sing.) yourself transgress that Law of Musa because you (sing.) ordered me slapped!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Paul said to Ananiyas, ‘God will punish you. You are good only on the outside but your heart is evil. You are sitting there to judge me in accordance with the law but you are the one who does not follow the law in that you commanded me to be slapped,’ Paul said.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Paul said to him, ‘As for you whose worship of God is a lie, surely God is going to punish you. Because according to the teaching of our law, you are sitting there to check up on me. However, you break that law because you commanded that they slap me.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon Pablo said to him, ‘You (sing.) pretend judge, in-the-future indeed (prophetic formula) God will also slap you (sing.)! Because you (sing.) are seated there to try me according to our law, but you (sing.) broke that law, because you (sing.) had-me -slapped.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “After being slapped, Pablo spoke. He said to Ananias, ‘It really will happen that you also are caused hurt, but God will be the one hurting you. You only make a pretence of your following/obeying him. For there you now are, sitting, supposedly to judge me according to the laws, but you now are the one breaking this law, for you ordered that my mouth be slapped.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 23:3

In Paul’s reply to Ananias it is important to use the same verb to strike as is employed in verse 2. If such a verb can also suggest destruction, this may be all the better.

No one is certain what the exact analogy is that Paul had in mind when he called the High Priest a whitewashed wall. The first thing that comes to mind is the comparison that our Lord used (Matthew 23.27). However, the phrase is there used to describe hypocrisy, and it is difficult to read that into the present context. Others see in this a reference to the wall mentioned in Ezekiel 13.10-15, a wall which looked strong enough but was blown over by the wind. The problem is that the Septuagint does not use the word “whitewashed” to describe that wall. Perhaps the best solution is imply to conclude that this was a formula of abuse, the precise meaning of which is no longer known. Since we do not know the precise value of whitewashed wall, it is difficult to suggest alternative expressions in other languages. Therefore, it may very well be necessary simply to reproduce this expression in a more or less literal form (for example, “painted-over wall” or “wall that has been made to look white”), and then explain in some marginal note that this was obviously an expression of abuse, of which the precise meaning is no longer known. For the most part, however, a rendering such as “wall which has been made to look white” does provide at least a meaningful basis for an expression which would be interpreted as an insult to the High Priest.

You sit there to judge me according to the Law may be rendered as “you sit there as a judge who is supposed to follow the Law” or “you sit there as one who is supposed to judge me by what the Law says.”

In a number of languages one can speak about “breaking the Law,” but in many other languages such an expression simply does not make sense. One can only “break sticks.” However, in many languages one can “go against the Law,” “destroy the Law,” or “do what the Law says one should not do.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .