GAL 2:9 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126093
1. γνόντες
2. ginōskō
3. having known
4. -
5. 10970
6. VPAA·NMP
7. ˓having˒ known
8. ˓having˒ known
9. -
10. Y52; R126100; R126103; R126105; Person=John2
11. 126094
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126095
1. χάριν
2. χaris
3. grace
4. grace
5. 54850
6. N····AFS
7. grace
8. grace
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126096
1. τήν
2. ho
3. which
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····AFS
7. ¬which
8. ¬which
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126097
1. δοθεῖσαν
2. didōmi
3. having been given
4. -
5. 13250
6. VPAP·AFS
7. ˓having_been˒ given
8. ˓having_been˒ given
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126098
1. μοί
2. egō
3. to me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1D·S
7. ˱to˲ me
8. ˱to˲ me
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126099
1. Ἰάκωβος
2. iakōbos
3. Yakōbos/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ)
4. -
5. 23850
6. N····NMS
7. Yakōbos/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ)
8. Jacobus
9. U
10. Y52; F126067; F126094; F126107; F126109
11. 126100
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126101
1. Πέτρος
2. petros
3. -
4. -
5. 40740
6. N····NMS
7. Petros
8. Peter
9. W
10. -
11. 126102
1. Κηφᾶς
2. kēfas
3. Kaʸfas
4. -
5. 27860
6. N····NMS
7. Kaʸfas
8. Cephas
9. U
10. Y52; F126067; F126094; F126107; F126109
11. 126103
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126104
1. Ἰωάννης
2. iōannēs
3. Yōannaʸs
4. -
5. 24910
6. N····NMS
7. Yōannaʸs
8. John
9. U
10. Person=John2; Y52; F126067; F126094; F126107; F126109
11. 126105
1. οἱ
2. ho
3. the ones
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMP
7. the ‹ones›
8. the ‹ones›
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126106
1. δοκοῦντες
2. dokeō
3. supposing
4. -
5. 13800
6. VPPA·NMP
7. supposing
8. supposing
9. -
10. Y52; R126100; R126103; R126105; Person=John2
11. 126107
1. στῦλοι
2. stulos
3. pillars
4. pillars
5. 47690
6. N····NMP
7. pillars
8. pillars
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126108
1. εἶναι
2. eimi
3. to be
4. -
5. 15100
6. VNPA····
7. to_be
8. to_be
9. -
10. Y52; R126100; R126103; R126105; Person=John2
11. 126109
1. δεξιάς
2. dexios
3. +the right hands
4. -
5. 11880
6. S····AFP
7. ˓the˒ right ‹hands›
8. ˓the˒ right ‹hands›
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126110
1. ἔδωκαν
2. didōmi
3. they gave
4. -
5. 13250
6. VIAA3··P
7. ˱they˲ gave
8. ˱they˲ gave
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126111
1. ἐμοί
2. egō
3. to me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1D·S
7. ˱to˲ me
8. ˱to˲ me
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126112
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126113
1. Βαρναβᾷ
2. barnabas
3. Barnabas
4. Barnabas
5. 9210
6. N····DMS
7. Barnabas
8. Barnabas
9. U
10. Person=Barnabas; Y52; F126117; F126131
11. 126114
1. κοινωνίας
2. koinōnia
3. of fellowship
4. -
5. 28420
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ fellowship
8. ˱of˲ fellowship
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126115
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126116
1. ἡμεῖς
2. egō
3. we may go
4. we go
5. 14730
6. R···1N·P
7. we ‹may_go›
8. we ‹may_go›
9. -
10. Y52; R125554; Person=Paul; R126114; Person=Barnabas
11. 126117
1. μέν
2. men
3. -
4. -
5. 33030
6. D·······
7. indeed
8. indeed
9. -
10. -
11. 126118
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. to
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126119
1. τά
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126120
1. ἔθνη
2. ethnos
3. pagans
4. -
5. 14840
6. N····ANP
7. pagans
8. pagans
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126121
1. αὐτοί
2. autos
3. they
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3NMP
7. they
8. they
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126122
1. δέ
2. de
3. and
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126123
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. to
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126124
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126125
1. περιτομήν
2. peritomē
3. circumcision
4. -
5. 40610
6. N····AFS
7. circumcision
8. circumcision
9. -
10. Y52
11. 126126

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–10: The church leaders accepted Paul’s apostleship and his message

In this section, Paul explained to the Galatians one reason why they should hold firm to the gospel that he had taught them. He did this by telling them about the meeting that he had in Jerusalem with the apostles there. At this meeting, the apostles recognized Paul’s authority as an apostle. They also agreed that he preached the true gospel.

This meeting became necessary because of the message of some false teachers. These false teachers insisted that a person was not truly saved unless he also became circumcised and kept the laws of Moses. (See Acts 15:1–2 and Galatians 2:4.) At the meeting, the apostles agreed with Paul. They agreed that no one should force non-Jewish believers to be circumcised and obey the Law that God gave to Moses. This showed the Galatians that these teachers were wrong.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Paul Was Accepted as an Apostle by the Leaders in Jerusalem (GW)

The apostles accept Paul

Paul’s apostleship and message

The Jerusalem leaders recognized Paul’s apostleship and message

Paragraph 2:6–10

In this paragraph, Paul wrote about two results from the meeting in Jerusalem.

The first result of that meeting (2:6) was that the apostles and elders did not find it necessary to add circumcision or anything else to Paul’s message. They agreed that the gospel that Paul preached was true and complete.

The second result (2:7–9) was that the apostles agreed that Paul had full authority as an apostle. They recognized that God had given him authority to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

2:9a

And recognizing the grace that I had been given,

And understanding the work that God had graciously/kindly given me,
These men saw that God had been kind to me and given me this work:
People realized that God was kind/good to me and chose me to spread the good news.

recognizing: The Greek word that the BSB translates as recognizing also means “knowing.” It indicates what the leaders knew and understood.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

perceived (ESV)

realized (CEV)

understood (NCV)

saw (JBP)

the grace that I had been given: Here the word grace means the “kindness,” “generosity” or “favor” that God gave/showed to Paul. God was kind to Paul in the sense that he had given him a special ministry. God gave him the gifts and power to be an apostle and spread the gospel.

In Greek this phrase is more literally “the grace having been given to me.” This is a passive clause. Some ways to translate this clause are:

Use a passive clause. For example:
the favor that had been shown to me
the kindness that had been given to me by God to be an apostle
Use an active clause. For example:
God had given me this special task (GNT)
God was good to me and gave me the work of spreading the gospel

See also grace, Meaning 3 in the Glossary.

2:9b

James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—

the men who were like pillars of the church, James Peter and John,
James, Peter, and John, who were the most important men in the church.
These people were the important/big men in the church: James, Peter, and John.

James, Cephas, and John: These three men were the leaders in the church at Jerusalem. James was the younger brother of Jesus. (Paul had already mentioned him in 1:19.)

Cephas is Peter’s Jewish name. Both names (Peter and Cephas) mean “rock” and refer to the same man. In your translation, you should use the more familiar name, Peter.If the readers of your translation know the name Cephas in the national language version, you should include a footnote in your translation to explain the difference. For example:

James, Peter, and John (CEV)

Peter and John were close disciples of Jesus while he was on earth.

those reputed to be pillars: This clause is a metaphor. It compares the leaders of the church to pillars.

A “pillar” is a huge stone post or wood column that supports the roof of a building. Paul compared the church leaders to pillars. They are similar in that both have a very important role in their respective structures. Pillars are a very important part of the building. The three men had much responsibility in the church.

Some possible ways to translate this metaphor are:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
those men who were recognized as important/strong like pillars
Use another idiomatic expression for leaders. For example:
these men are…the backbone of the church (CEV)
Translate the meaning. For example:
the most important people (GW)

those reputed: This is the fourth time that Paul used the Greek word that the BSB here translates as reputed to refer to the church leaders. See what word(s) you used in 2:2b and 2:6a. As mentioned there, this term refers to the men who were “recognized” as important leaders of the church.

Some other ways to translate this are:

who had a reputation (NET)

those esteemed (NIV11)

who were known (NLT96)

2:9c

gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship,

shook hands with Barnabas and me to show that we were all fellow workers.
They shook hands with Barnabas and me as a sign that they agreed with us.
They told Barnabas and me that they were partners with us in the work.

gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship: This clause means that James, Peter, and John shook the hands of Paul and Barnabas. Shaking hands was a cultural action that showed that these three men agreed that they were partners together with Paul in ministry. It showed that the leaders agreed with Paul and Barnabas, accepted them, and supported them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

they shook hands with Barnabas and me, agreeing to be our partners (GW)

they shook hands with Barnabas and me to show that we were companions in God’s work

In some cultures, shaking hands may not show that people agree with one another. If that is the case in your language, you may need to translate the meaning directly. For example:

they told/showed Barnabas and me that they agreed with us and were partners with us

If you do this, you should include a footnote saying that they actually shook hands to show their partnership.

2:9d

so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

They agreed that we^(excl) should go preach to the Gentiles, and they should go preach to the Jews.
We agreed that Barnabas and I would go work among the non-Jews, and they would go to the Jews.
They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. (NLT)

so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised: This clause shows what the agreement was between the leaders and Paul and Barnabas. They would be partners in the work of spreading the gospel, but they would work among different groups of people.

In some languages, it will be good to make clear that this clause gives the content of the agreement. Some ways to do that are:

We agreed that Barnabas and I would work among the Gentiles and they among the Jews. (GNT)

They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. (NLT)

we…they: The pronoun we refers to Paul and Barnabas. The pronoun they refers to Peter, James, and John.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

γνόντες τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι

˓having˒_known (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί γνόντες τήν χάριν τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί Ἰάκωβος καί Κηφᾶς καί Ἰωάννης οἱ δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι δεξιάς ἔδωκαν ἐμοί καί Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας ἵνα ἡμεῖς εἰς τά ἔθνη αὐτοί δέ εἰς τήν περιτομήν)

The abstract noun *grace refers to God graciously giving Paul the task of proclaiming the gospel to non-Jews. If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of grace, you could express the same idea with an adverb such as “graciously” or “kindly,” or you could express the meaning in some other way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [having understood the task that God had graciously given to me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
τὴν δοθεῖσάν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί γνόντες τήν χάριν τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί Ἰάκωβος καί Κηφᾶς καί Ἰωάννης οἱ δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι δεξιάς ἔδωκαν ἐμοί καί Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας ἵνα ἡμεῖς εἰς τά ἔθνη αὐτοί δέ εἰς τήν περιτομήν)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [that God gave]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
οἱ δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι

the_‹ones› supposing pillars to_be

Here, pillars refers to James, Cephas, and John, who were leaders of the believers in Jerusalem. In that culture important leaders of a group were sometimes referred to as pillars because of the support that they provided to the group. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent metaphor from your culture. Alternatively, you could express the meaning plainly.

Note 4 topic: translate-symaction
δεξιὰς ἔδωκαν ἐμοὶ καὶ Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας, ἵνα ἡμεῖς εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, αὐτοὶ δὲ εἰς τὴν περιτομήν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί γνόντες τήν χάριν τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί Ἰάκωβος καί Κηφᾶς καί Ἰωάννης οἱ δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι δεξιάς ἔδωκαν ἐμοί καί Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας ἵνα ἡμεῖς εἰς τά ἔθνη αὐτοί δέ εἰς τήν περιτομήν)

Here, gave the right hand is an action that indicates agreement. Shaking hands indicated that they agreed with each other and were pledging to work together as ministry partners toward the same goal. Essentially, they agreed to be in fellowship, and shaking each other's right hand indicated this. If there is a gesture with similar meaning in your culture, you could consider using it here in your translation. Alternate translation: [affirming that we to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
κοινωνίας

˱of˲_fellowship

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of fellowship, you could express the same idea in some other way that is natural in your language.

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal
ἵνα

in_order_that

The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. Paul is stating the purpose for which James and Cephas and John … gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and Paul. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order that]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
ἡμεῖς εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, αὐτοὶ δὲ εἰς τὴν περιτομήν

we_‹may_go› to (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί γνόντες τήν χάριν τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί Ἰάκωβος καί Κηφᾶς καί Ἰωάννης οἱ δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι δεξιάς ἔδωκαν ἐμοί καί Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας ἵνα ἡμεῖς εἰς τά ἔθνη αὐτοί δέ εἰς τήν περιτομήν)

Paul is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. The words he is leaving out are probably “go” or “proclaim the good news.” If it would help your readers, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [we would go to the Gentiles, and they would go the circumcision] or [we would proclaim the good news to the Gentiles, and they would proclaim the good news to the circumcision]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive
ἡμεῖς

we_‹may_go›

When Paul says we here, he is not including the Galatians, so we would be exclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
τὴν περιτομήν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί γνόντες τήν χάριν τήν δοθεῖσαν μοί Ἰάκωβος καί Κηφᾶς καί Ἰωάννης οἱ δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι δεξιάς ἔδωκαν ἐμοί καί Βαρναβᾷ κοινωνίας ἵνα ἡμεῖς εἰς τά ἔθνη αὐτοί δέ εἰς τήν περιτομήν)

See how you translated the phrase the circumcision in [2:7](../02/07.md).

OET interlinear GAL 2:9