complete verse (Hebrews 13:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 13:19:

  • Uma: “And I, I really request that you pray for me, that I may quickly return and meet with you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And I really beseech you, really pray to God that I may soon be able to come back to you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Pray also for me, so I might quickly be returned by God to you. As for our Lord Jesus, He is the powerful One who watches over us, His sheep.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Please-also -be-so-kind (strong request) as to pray for me so it won’t be long before (lit. and-then) God will cause-me -to-return to you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Above all I am asking that you always pray for me that I may be able to return to you quickly/easily.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And when you pray to God for me, ask God to bring it about that I will soon be able to go and see you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Hebrews 13:19

This verse is closely linked in meaning with verse 18, though it is a separate sentence grammatically. I beg you even more earnestly is a strong expression and may be rendered idiomatically as “with all my heart I ask you” or “with all the strength I have I plead with you.”

Revised Standard Version‘s literal “do this” is made explicit as to pray in Good News Translation and other translations. A comparison with Revised Standard Version also shows that the reference to God is implied. Some common language translations and most other translations have “the sooner” (so Revised Standard Version), implying “sooner than if you did not pray.” It may, however, simply mean “very soon” (New American Bible), “soon” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), or “as soon as possible” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .