cowardly

The Greek in Revelation 21:8 that is translated as “cowardly” in English versions is idiomatically translated in Thai as “white-eyed people.”

judge

The Greek in Revelation 6:10 that is translated as “judge” in English is rendered idiomatically in Yapese as “untie the words of” and in Chichewa as “sing a (court) case against.”

destroy

The Greek in Revelation 11:18 that is translated as “destroy” in English is rendered in Yapese as “untie the words of” and in Chichewa as “wiping from the ground.”

wisdom

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, Latin, 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)
  • Kako: “heart thinking” (source: Reyburn 2002, p. 190)

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a hand gesture referring to God to indicate a human quality to communicate that wisdom does not originate from man but is linked to and connected with the fear of God (source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group):


“Wisdom” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

See also wisdom (Proverbs) and knowledge.

Translation commentary on Revelation 1:14

The description of the figure’s head and eyes is like that of Dan 7.9; 10.6.

His head and his hair: this is a way of saying “the hair on his head”; it is not to be thought that the skin of his head was white as snow; see Translator’s New Testament, New American Bible, Revised “The hair of his head”; but in most languages one may say simply “hair.”

White as white wool, white as snow: this is unnecessarily wordy, and something like “as white as wool, as white as snow” is sufficient; or, as Revised English Bible has it, “as white as snow-white wool”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “were white as wool, or as snow.” In a given language the appropriate model for whiteness must be used (see the Handbook on Matthew, 28.3). In some languages “egret’s feathers” will be appropriate; in others, “cotton” or “cotton-wool.” If no such model exists, something like “very, very white” may be used, or an ideophone.

His eyes were like a flame of fire: this can be said “his eyes blazed (or, shone) like fire.” Translator’s New Testament “his eyes were blazing like fire.” The figure is probably related to Dan 10.6 (see the figure also in 2.18; 19.12). As commentators note, this is generally understood to represent fierce opposition to enemies.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .