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 19:5

From the throne came a voice: this is not God speaking, as the words our God indicate. Perhaps the speaker is one of the four living creatures, who were nearest the throne. Other instances of an unidentified voice speaking are: 6.6, from among the four living creatures; 9.13, from among the four horns of the altar; 16.1, 7, from the temple. In 21.3 there is once more a voice coming from God’s throne. Translators in many languages will need to render this clause as “Then I heard someone calling from the throne, saying….”

The translator should consider rendering this song of praise and the one in verses 6b-8 as poetry (see Section F of the introduction, “Translating the Revelation to John,” pages 6 and following).

Praise our God: this is the equivalent of “Hallelujah” in verse 1.

His servants, you who fear him: these are not two groups but one: “you who serve him, who have reverence for him.” For fear him, small and great, see 11.18. The command is given to God’s people on earth.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• Then (or, After that) I heard someone calling from the throne, saying, “You must praise our [inclusive] God, all people, both weak and powerful, who serve him and revere him.”

Or:

• … “All you people, both weak and powerful, who have reverence for God must say to him, ‘We give honor to you.’ ”

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 .