The term that is transliterated as “Timothy” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that combines the signs for the letter T and “young,” referring to 1 Timothy 4:12 et al. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Timothy” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the inclusive form (including the writer and the readers of this letter).
Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.
The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” (in the sense of a fellow believer), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)
In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)
Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 13:23:
Uma: “For your information too [lit., So that you know also]: our relative Timotius has been released from prison. If he arrives here soon, I will bring him along to come visit you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “I also want to tell you that our (incl.) brother Timoteo has come out of prison. If he comes here soon I will bring him along when I come to visit you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I also want to tell you that our (incl.) brother Timothy has been released from prison. If he quickly arrives here I will bring him with me when I come.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “I want to make-known to you that Timoteo has been released from prison. If he arrives here right-away, he will go-with me to go see you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “I also want you to know that our sibling Timoteo has gotten out of prison now. So if he arrives soon I will bring him along when I go there to you.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “And also I send you word that our brother Timothy who was in jail has been released. If he isn’t too late in coming here, we will come together to greet you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
“You know” is a grammatically possible translation of the first word in Greek, but “Know!” or I want you to know is more likely. Brother has the special Christian sense of “fellow Christian,” implied by 13.1. Let out of prison: of prison is not expressed in the Greek text and is not absolutely necessary in translation (literally, simply “released,” Revised Standard Version), but it seems the most likely meaning. Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Barclay make out of prison explicit, but most translations do not.
The most likely explanation of the second part of the verse is that as soon as Timothy joins the writer, the writer will take Timothy with him to see the readers of this letter (compare verse 19). “As soon as” is a well-attested meaning of the Greek words translated soon enough, but has not been chosen by translators. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente has simply “quickly.”
For I will have him with me, Bible en français courant has “I will take him with me”; Translator’s New Testament and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch have “I will bring him with me.” Bible en français courant takes as the point of reference the place where the writer is; Translator’s New Testament takes it as the place where the readers are. The translator must decide which is more natural in his own language. In English, as well as in this context, both are possible, and also Good News Translation‘s neutral I will have him with me. However, the use of “bring” rather than “take” suggests a warmer identification with the readers’ point of view.
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 .
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