mind (heart / soul) (letters of John)

The concept that is expressed as “mind” in English is translated as “head-heart” in Yatzachi Zapotec. This concept is applied to terms that are translated in English as “fellowship” (“head-hearts are one”), the “inner-self” (“have no evil” is “have no evil in our head-hearts”), “eye” (in the sense of “understanding”), “heart” and “soul.”

Source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22.

See also heart, soul, mind (with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind).

soul

The Hebrew, Greek, and Latin that is translated as “soul” in English is translated in Chol with a term that refers to the invisible aspects of human beings (source: Robert Bascom), in Yagaria with oune or “shadow, reflection” (source: Renck, p. 81), and in Elhomwe as “heart” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

The Mandarin Chinese línghún (靈魂 / 灵魂), literally “spirit-soul,” is often used for “soul” (along with xīn [心] or “heart”). This is a term that was adopted from Buddhist sources into early Catholic writings and later also by Protestant translators. (Source: Zetzsche 1996, p. 32, see also Clara Ho-yan Chan in this article )

In Chichewa, moyo means both “soul” and “life.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also heart, soul, mind.

complete verse (3 John 1:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 3 John 1:2:

  • Uma: “Friend! I pray that you are healthy and that you get goodness in everything that you do, like your soul gets goodness.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My beloved friend, I ask God that good may be arriving/happening to you and that your body/you may be healthy for I know that your trust is strong.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Dear brother, I pray for you to God that your situation might become good and that you might be given a good body just like He also has given you strong faith.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My esteemed Gaius, I who have written this, it’s Juan who is a leader of the believers. My love for you (sing.) who are my friend is from-the-heart. May your (sing.) life there be good and your (sing.) body also be strong like the strength of your (sing.) faith.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My dear friend, I am praying that hopefully your situation is always good, and your body strong/healthy like the strength of your believing/obeying which I am hearing news about.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my dear brother, I ask God that he will help you in what you do and I ask that he will make your strong (in health) just like your beliefs are strong.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Dear Gayo, I ask God that good may always happen to you, and that you may be well as you are well in your head-heart.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “Loved one, may God apportion to you his blessing so that you will turn out well. And that your body be healthy like your heart is healthy.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “Brother whom I love, I know your soul is clean. That-way I hope is your body and in all things you are well (or in good condition).”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “I love you very much and I want all you do to turn out well, may you be well as your soul is well.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

Translation commentary on 3 John 1:2

The first two clauses are formulas which occur often in letter writing, but the third is a characteristic addition made by the writer.

I pray: in the New Testament the Greek verb usually indicates prayer to God, but in letters of the time it was used in the nonreligious sense of “to wish,” “to hope.” In this passage it most likely has the latter meaning.

That all may go well with you, or ‘that you may be well in all respects (or in every way),’ ‘that good may always happen to you.’ The reference is to well-being in general. The Greek verb used has the literal meaning of “to be-led-along-a-good-road,” then, “to get along well,” “to succeed.”

That you may be in health, or ‘that you may be healthy,’ ‘that your body may be strong,’ ‘that you may be always new,’ ‘that you may not be sick (literally may be not-dying).’ The receptor language may prefer to mention the specific before the more generic. In such cases the present clause, which specifies an aspect of being well, has to be placed first.

I know that it is well with your soul, literally “as your soul is well.” The first clause, which uttered a wish, is now driven home by a reference to a fact. Therefore several versions have added ‘I know,’ or ‘surely.’

The verb “to be well” is the same as that in the first clause, but now the reference is not to the bodily and material aspect of man. To make this clear the writer has added with your soul, in which soul refers to the spiritual aspect of the human personality. Compare such renderings of the clause as “you are well in spirit” (Good News Translation), ‘your innermost remains as good as that,’ ‘as you are well in your head-heart.’

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The Third Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on 3 John 1:2

2 (Focus)

The focus of this verse is John’s wish that all may be well with Gaius in his physical health and in his daily business. He then says that he knows that Gaius’ spiritual life is going well.

2a

I pray that: (Multiple Senses) This verb can be used both in the sense of praying to God and in the sense of wishing or hoping for something. It is probably being used in this second sense here. See The Jerusalem Bible.

2b

soul: (Figure of Speech) This word is used here as a figure of speech referring to Gaius’ spiritual life, his relationship with God.

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Sung version of 3 John

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