wisdom

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is translated as “wisdom” in English is rendered in various ways:

  • Amganad Ifugao / Tabasco Chontal: “(big) mind”
  • Bulu / Yamba: “heart-thinking”
  • Tae’: “cleverness of heart” (source for this and all above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Palauan: “bright spirit (innermost)” (source: Bratcher / Hatton)
  • Ixcatlán Mazatec: “with your best/biggest thinking” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Noongar: dwangka-boola, lit. “ear much” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018 — see also remember)
  • Kwere “to know how to live well” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Dobel: “their ear holes are long-lasting” (in Acts 6:3) (source: Jock Hughes)
  • Gbaya: iŋa-mgbara-mɔ or “knowing-about-things” (note that in comparison to that, “knowledge” is translated as iŋa-mɔ or “knowing things”) (source: Philip Noss in The Bible Translator 2001, p. 114ff. )
  • Chichewa: nzeru, meaning both “knowledge” and “wisdom” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Uma: “clearness” (source: Uma Back Translation)

See also wisdom (Proverbs) and knowledge.

complete verse (2 Chronicles 9:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 9:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Your people are very lucky! Your servants/slaves who are working for you are in a very good place (are lucky) always and (they are listening to how great your wisdom is.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Blessed are your people! Blessed are these courtiers of yours who are in your presence every day and hear your wisdom.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “How fortunate are your people! How fortunate are your officials who serve you for they always hear your wisdom.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The men who work for you are very fortunate! Your officials who are constantly standing in front of you and listening to the wise things that you say are also fortunate!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 9:7

Happy are your wives!: Happy may be rendered “blessed,” “fortunate” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible), or even “lucky” (Contemporary English Version, New Century Version). Revised Standard Version‘s emphatic rendering of this clause reflects the Hebrew, but this exclamation may have to be restructured in some languages by saying “Your wives are very lucky.”

As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, there is a textual problem here. The Masoretic Text says “Happy are your men” (followed by New International Version, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The Septuagint says “Happy are your wives,” and this is the basis for the translation in Revised Standard Version (also Revised English Bible, Moffatt, Osty-Trinquet). The Hebrew words for your wives (nasheyka) and “your men” (ʾanasheyka) are very similar. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the reading “your men” and suggests that the Septuagint reading is the result of making the words agree with the parallel text in 1 Kgs 10.8. If the Masoretic Text is followed, translators may choose to render “your men” as “your officials” since “men” and servants may be parallel in meaning (so Good News Translation). Some translations take “your men” to refer to “your subjects” (La Bible Pléiade) or “your people” (New Revised Standard Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) in general.

Happy are these your servants: As noted above, your servants refers to Solomon’s officials. New Living Translation says “your officials.”

Who continually stand before you: The Hebrew expression for “to stand before someone” means “to be ready to serve someone.” The same expression occurs with this meaning in 2 Chr 10.6, 8. This whole clause may be translated “who continually attend you” (New Revised Standard Version), “They are always in your presence” (Bible en français courant), or “They are always near you” (Parole de Vie).

And hear your wisdom: For the Hebrew noun rendered wisdom, see the comments on 2 Chr 1.10. Good News Translation says “wise sayings,” but this rendering narrows the focus of this abstract noun too much. It will be better to use a more general term such as wisdom if possible in the receptor language.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .