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.).
  • Hausa Common Language Bible: farin ciki or “white stomach.” 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 for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling,” happiness / joy, and exceeding joy.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 7:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 7:16:

  • Uma: “So, relatives, one more time I say: we are so happy now, for our (incl.) connection is good again, I can trust you in everything.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore I am happy, because I know that you are really trustworthy.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And because of this, I am now very happy because I know that I can completely trust you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And extreme also is my happiness, for I know that I can trust you properly.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore I am now really happy for I am now really certain that what is now dominant in your minds/inner-being is wanting to do what is correct to do.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “As for me, very much do I rejoice, now I do not doubt about what you are doing, all is proper, nothing is lacking.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:16

Paul’s expression of joy and confidence is implicitly in contrast with the concern and anxiety he had concerning the Corinthian church prior to Titus’ coming. Revised English Bible makes this contrast explicit by inserting the word “now”: “How happy I am now.”

Confidence translates the same Greek word translated in Revised Standard Version as “having courage” in 5.6, 8. The context here favors the meaning “confidence.” The adjective perfect is literally “all.” For this reason Good News Translation uses the adverb “completely.” Other versions read “I can repose such full confidence in you” (Knox); “I can trust you fully” (New Century Version); “I trust you utterly” (New American Bible). Some languages may have to say “I put my heart in you in all things.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 7:16

7:16 I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you.

I rejoice that I am certain that you (plur.) ⌊will do the right/proper thing⌋ in every matter.
-or-
I am very happy because I am confident in your deeds/behavior/faith in all things.

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