complete verse (Acts 9:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 9:16:

  • Uma: “I myself will say to him the suffering he must undergo because of his following of me.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And I will show to him all that he must suffer/endure because of his following me,’ said the Lord.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And I will cause him to understand that he will have many difficulties because he is my servant.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I will also make-known to him the number (lit. manyness) of the hardships he will endure in order that my name will-be-made-known.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And it’s true, I will cause him to comprehend that he next will experience very many hardships/sufferings because of his serving me.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 9:16

In Greek the pronoun subjects of verbs are expressed by a suffix on the verb form itself; but when a separate form of the pronoun is used as a subject, this usually indicates that the subject is to be stressed. Since I does appear as a separate form in this sentence, the Good News Translation has brought out the indicated emphasis by translating I myself.

The final phrase of verse 16 for my sake must not be understood as an expression of cause but as an expression of purpose. Such purpose must in some languages be made relatively explicit by a purpose clause, for example, “in order to make me known” (an expansion based upon the immediately preceding statement in v. 15).

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 .