Translation commentary on Wisdom 2:24

But through the devil’s envy death entered the world: See 1.13-15. It is not clear here whether the writer is referring to the snake’s tempting Eve in Gen 3, or to Cain’s murder of Abel in Gen 4. Either way, death is described as due to the devil’s action, not God’s.

And those who belong to his party experience it: Compare 1.16, where much the same language is used. Good News Translation offers a good translation. So does Contemporary English Version with:

• But death entered the world
because the devil was jealous,
and so all his followers die.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Wisdom of Solomon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2004. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.

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