A Goal Relationship is a logical relationship in which the second event is the purpose or goal of the first event. In order for something to be a Goal relationship, someone must do the first event with the intention that it will cause the second event.
In Scripture, the goal or purpose may be stated either first or second. But in some languages, the goal or purpose must always occur in the same position (either first or second) in order for that logical relationship to be understood. You (the translator) need to understand the relationship between the two parts and communicate those accurately in your language. This may require changing the order of the two events. It may also require specific words to indicate that one is the goal or purpose of the other. Words commonly used to indicate a goal relationship in English are “in order to,” “in order that” or “so that.” It is important that the translator recognize the words that signal a goal relationship and translate that relationship in a natural way.
> Gideon, Joash's son, was separating out the wheat by beating it on the floor, in the winepress—<u>to hide it from the Midianites</u>. (Judges 6:11b ULT)
> Now if I have found favor in your eyes, show me your ways <u>so that I may know you and continue to find favor in your eyes</u>. Remember that this nation is your people."(Exodus 33:13 ULT)
> …the shepherds said to each other, “Let us indeed go to Bethlehem, <u>and see this thing that has happened</u>, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15 ULT)
> But when the vine growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him <u>and take over his inheritance</u>.’ So they took him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. (Matt 21:38-39 ULT)
The Purpose of the vine growers killing the heir was so they could take his inheritance. They state both events as a plan, joining them only with “and.” Then the word “so” marks the reporting of the first event, but the second event (the Goal or Purpose) is not stated.
> …the shepherds said to each other, “Let us indeed go to Bethlehem, <u>and see this thing that has happened</u>, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15 ULT)
>> …the shepherds said to each other, “Let us indeed go to Bethlehem, <u>so that we can see this thing that has happened</u>, which the Lord has made known to us.”
> But when the vine growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him <u>and take over his inheritance</u>.’ So they took him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. (Matt 21:38-39 ULT)
> But when the vine growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him <u>and take over his inheritance</u>.’ So they took him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. (Matt 21:38-39 ULT)
>> But when the vine growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him <u>so that we can take over his inheritance</u>.’ So they took him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him <u>so that they could take over his inheritance</u>.