mourn

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “mourn” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “have one’s heart broken” or “have a bursting heart” (source: Newari Back Translation).

In Cherokee it is translated as “going around feeling badly” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 16).

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.

Translation commentary on 3 Maccabees 6:32

They ceased their chanting of dirges: Chanting of dirges means singing songs appropriate for a death or funeral. This clause may be rendered “They stopped singing songs of mourning.”

And took up the song of their fathers: The song of their fathers probably does not refer to any particular song, so this clause may be translated “Instead, they sang the kind of songs that their ancestors sang,” “… sang the songs just like those their ancestors had sung,” or even more simply “… sang ancient songs.”

Praising God, their Savior and worker of wonders: As Revised Standard Version‘s footnote indicates, there are some variants in the Greek manuscripts for this clause, but we suggest following the Revised Standard Version text and ignoring the other readings. Their Savior and worker of wonders may be expressed as “the one who had rescued them and does miracles.”

Putting an end to all mourning and wailing may be translated “They stopped mourning and wailing.” This clause simply repeats the information in the first clause of the verse.

They formed choruses as a sign of peaceful joy: For the Greek word rendered choruses, the Revised Standard Version footnote gives an alternate interpretation of “choral groups.” The difference between these two renderings is not clear. New Revised Standard Version, however, gives the alternate translation “dances,” which is better, and in our judgment should be followed, as it is by Anderson, Emmet, and Hadas. “They formed dances” probably means the Jews gathered into groups for dancing. As a sign of peaceful joy may be expressed as “joyfully and in peace.”

We suggest the following models for this verse:

• They stopped singing songs of mourning and began singing ancient songs praising God who does miracles and had saved [or, rescued] them. Groups of them danced joyfully and in peace.

• No more funeral songs! No more mourning and wailing! Instead, they sang ancient songs of praise to God, who performs miracles, and who saved them. Groups of them danced for joy, and in peace.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.