pride

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The Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “pride” in English is translated as

  • “continually boasting” (Amganad Ifugao)
  • “lifting oneself up” (Tzeltal)
  • “answering haughtily” (Yucateco) (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • “unbent neck” (like llamas) (Kaqchikel) (source: Nida 1952, p. 151)
  • “praising oneself, saying: I am better” (Shipibo-Conibo) (source: Nida 1964, p. 237).
  • “bigness of head” (existing idiom: girman kai) in the Hausa Common Language Bible it is idiomatically translated as or (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
  • “trying to make yourself the leader” in Mairasi (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • “make oneself important” (sick upspeeln) in Low German (source: translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006)
  • “a haughty liver” in Yakan (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • “lift head” in Upper Guinea Crioulo (source: Nicoleti 2012, p. 78)

See also proud / arrogant and haughty / proud / heart exalted / exalt oneself above.

haughty / proud / heart exalted / exalt oneself above

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “haughty,” “proud,” “heart exalted,” “exalt oneself above” or similar in English is translated in the Catholic Mandarin Chinese Sigao version with a historical Chinese idiom: xīngāo qìào (心高氣傲 / 心高气傲), lit. “heart high and air prideful.” (Source: Toshikazu S. Foley in Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, 2011, p. 45ff.)

See also pride.

complete verse (Daniel 11:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 11:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “When those soldiers are taken along, thousands of them will be killed. He will be proud but shall not always win/defeat.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After defeating that army he will become arrogant, and he will kill thousands upon thousands of men. But he will not continue win for many days.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Because of his victory, he will-be-proud/boast and he will-kill many more, but he will- not -remain victorious.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The King of Egypt will become very proud because of his army having killed a very large number of soldiers from Syria, but his army will not continue to win battles.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 11:12

When the multitude is taken: this is understood by some commentators as a later addition to the text or a variant reading of the last statement in verse 11. But it may equally well be understood as an intentional repetition of the previous idea, with the meaning “and when he has finished defeating this great army…,” or as in New English Bible, “when this horde has been captured….”

His heart shall be exalted: the essential element in this expression is the pride of the Egyptian king. The languages of the world have various ways of communicating this idea. Some will say “his heart swelled up,” and others, “he thought he was great” or “he was lifted up.” Translators should search for the most natural equivalent in their own language.

Cast down tens of thousands: the number is probably intended to be taken not literally but rather as a reference to a very great (uncountable) number of enemy soldiers. And in most languages it is a mistake to translate the verb cast down literally. The meaning is to exterminate or cause to die.

But: the conjunction marks the beginning of an unexpected thought. In spite of his achievements this ruler will not continue to be successful. In some cases it will be good to find an equivalent for “yet” (New Jerusalem Bible), “however,” or “nevertheless.”

He shall not prevail: it may be necessary in some languages to say something like “he will not go on winning,” “he will have no enduring strength” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “he will not remain triumphant” (New International Version).

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .