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.

soul was departing

The Hebrew in Genesis 35:18 that is translated “her soul was departing” or similar in English is emphasized in the interconfessional Chichewa translation (publ. 1999) with the ideophone ŵefuŵefu (“she was panting her last ŵefuŵefu“). An ideophone is a word that expresses what is perceived by the five senses. (Source: Ernst Wendland in The Bible Translator 1981, p. 107)

complete verse (Genesis 35:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 35:18:

  • Newari: “Realizing that she was about to die, before she died, Rachel named the child Ben-oni. The father, however, named him Benjamin.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The child was-born but Raquel was- now -on-the-verge-of-death. When she was- not yet -cut-off of breath, she named the child Ben Oni. But Jacob named the child Benjamin.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But she was dying, and with her last breath she said, ‘Name him Benoni,’ which means ‘son of my sorrow’, but his father named him Benjamin, which means ‘son of my right hand’.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 35:18

And as her soul was departing (for she died): note that Good News Translation and others render the Hebrew connective as “But,” to contrast what the midwife was saying with what was happening to Rachel. Her soul was departing is an idiomatic way of saying that she was dying. The literal rendering is “her breath going forth,” which is rendered by Revised English Bible “with her last breath.” For she died is placed between parentheses in Revised Standard Version. Note that Good News Translation places this statement, without parentheses, at the opening of verse 18.

She called his name Ben-oni: that is, “she named him Benoni.” Note that Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation give the recognized meaning of this name in their footnotes. Anchor Bible says “The element ʾoni may signify ‘my vigor’ (see 49.3), and this sense is supported by the orthography; the context, however, favors (at least symbolically) ‘misfortune, suffering’ (from a different root), and this interpretation is preferred by tradition (see also Hos 9.4 [‘mourners’]).”

But his father called his name Benjamin: his father is Jacob. According to Revised Standard Version‘s footnote Benjamin may mean “Son of the right hand” or “Son of the South.” When someone faces east, the right hand is toward the south. Note, however, that Good News Translation says “Son who will be fortunate.” The sense of “fortunate,” “good luck” comes from the belief that the right hand is more favorable than the left hand.

In translation it is important to draw attention to the contrast between the two names. Some translations do this by saying “But his father gave him a different name…” or “… Jacob changed the name of that child. He called him Benjamin.” The difference of meaning is most often given in footnotes as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. However, it is possible to give the basic difference in the text. For example, in its text Bible en français courant says after Ben-oni “which means son of sorrow,” and after Benjamin says “son of the right hand.” In its footnote Bible en français courant has “Jacob changes an unfavorable name (Benoni) to a favorable name (Benjamin), the right hand often being considered the better one (see Psa 137.5), the same as with the right side (Psa 110.5).”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .