complete verse (Philemon 1:22)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:22:

  • Uma: “And also, I request that you please prepare a bed for me in your home, because I hope that God will answer your (pl.) prayers, in order that I to be released from this prison, so that I can visit you (pl.).” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There is still (something) I ask/beg of you. Prepare a room for me beforehand because I hope/expect that God will answer your (pl.) prayers and I will be released.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There is something else I want to ask you for, and it is this: Prepare a place for me to sleep there for I have great confidence that by means of your prayers, God will permit me to come to you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There is still one-thing that I will say. If possible, please prepare-for me a room where-I-will-stay. For I expect that God will answer your prayers that I be-set-free to visit you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “What I will further add is, if possible/acceptable also with you set-aside-for me a place to stay there in your house. For I am hoping that, through the strength of your (pl.) praying, I will be able to get out of this prison and indeed be able to return to you (pl.).” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And now, prepare a place for me to stay when I come there. I think that I will come, because that is what you are asking God to bring about.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Philemon 1:22

Some translations (Jerusalem Bible Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) take verse 22 as the beginning of a new section; but it is so closely related to verse 21 that it should not be separated from it.

At the same time, that is, while making the former request, he adds this other request. The meaning is better represented by such translations as New English Bible New International Version “one thing more”; Jerusalem Bible “there is another thing”; Phillips “will you do something else?” At the same time, get a room ready for me may be rendered as “I also want you to prepare a room for me” or “… get a guest room ready for me.”

The request is get a room ready for me; Paul hopes soon to be a guest in Philemon’s home, as a result of God’s answer to the prayers of all of you. Here Paul uses the plural second person pronoun, whereas up till now, from verse 2, he has used the singular pronoun, referring only to Philemon. All of you would include Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and the other members of the church.

In a number of languages, it is extremely difficult to find an adequate term for hope. The closest equivalent may be a phrase such as “I wait with confidence,” for hope in its NT meaning implies a confident expectation with regard to some future benefit. A verb such as “wait” indicates future expectation, and “confidence” suggests that in the end there will be some positive benefit.

In translating God will answer the prayers of all of you it is important to employ a word for answer which suggests more than merely responding to a question. Therefore, God will answer the prayers of all of you may be translated as “God will do for you all that you pray to him about.”

I hope that God … will give me back to you translates the Greek passive “I hope … to be given to you.” The verb used, charizomai, means “to make a gift, grant a favor” (in Col 2.13, 3.13 it is used in the sense it often has of “to forgive”). It is a kindness, a favor, that the people are asking God to grant them, namely, that Paul will be given his freedom and be able to come to them. The you is again plural.

A literal rendering of I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you might suggest that Paul is hoping for two different things, namely, that God will answer the prayers of the believers and that he will give Paul back to the believers. Obviously, of course, what the people are praying for is that he will be given back to them. This relationship can perhaps be best expressed in some languages as “that God will do what you have asked him to do, namely, to give me back to you.” On the other hand, a literal rendering of give me back to you might seem very strange, for this is essentially a causative expression involving a return. Therefore, one may best translate give me back to you as “cause me to return to you” or “allow me to return to you.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .