happiness / joy

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.

Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions, rejoiced greatly / celebrated, the Mossi translation of “righteous”, and joy.

joy

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The Greek, Latin, Ge’ez, and Hebrew that is translated with “joy” or “gladness” in English is translated with various strategies:

  • Baoulé: “a song in the stomach” (see also peace (inner peace))
  • Bambara: “the spirit is made sweet”
  • Kpelle: “sweet heart”
  • Tzeltal: “the good taste of one’s heart”
  • Uduk: “good to the stomach”
  • Mískito: “the liver is wide open” (“happily letting the pleasures flooding in upon it”) (source for this and above: Nida 1952)
  • Mairasi: “good liver” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Noongar: koort-kwabba-djil or “heart very good” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “refreshed heart” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.).

See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling,” happiness / joy, and exceeding joy.

complete verse (2 Chronicles 30:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 30:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “All the people rejoiced. Then, they agreed to continue to celebrate that festival for another seven days.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “All the people agreed to stay there another seven days. So rejoicing and rejoicing, they celebrated the festival for another seven days.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate for seven more days. So they did this with great joy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then the whole group decided to celebrate for seven more days, so they did: They celebrated joyfully for seven more days.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 30:23

Then the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast for another seven days means all the Israelites agreed to continue the Passover celebration for an additional period of seven days. For those who had come from other areas outside the city, this meant remaining in Jerusalem for another week. For this reason New Century Version says “Then all the people agreed to stay seven more days.” This clause is literally “And the whole assembly agreed to do another seven days.” Revised Standard Version has added the words the feast as the sense requires. For keep the feast, see the comments on verses 1-3.

So they kept it for another seven days with gladness: New Century Version says “so they celebrated with joy for seven more days.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Chronicles 30:23

30:23a The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days,

All the people gathered there agreed to celebrate the festival for another seven days.
-or-
Everyone there decided to continue observing the feast for seven (7) more days.

30:23b so they observed seven days with joy.

And so for seven more days they celebrated with joy.
-or-
And so the following week they continued celebrating in a joyful manner.

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