peace (inner peace)

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The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is usually translated into English as “peace,” when referring to one’s inner peace, is (back-) translated with a variety of idioms and phrases:

In American Sign Language it is signed with a compound sign consisting of “become” and “silent.” (Source: Yates 2011, p. 52)


“Peace” in American Sign Language (source )

See also peace (absence of strife) and this devotion on YouVersion and this one on Bible Gateway .

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 (Isaiah 55:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 55:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “You (plur.) shall go out in happiness,
    and you will be led forth in peace.
    The mountains and hills shall sing
    in front of you (plur.).
    All the trees shall clap
    their hands with joy.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You will have the chance to live in joy and peace.
    Even the mountains and hills will start to sing for you,
    and on the plains [lit.: staying in the level-going place] the trees will begin to clap their hands.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Israelinhon, you (plur.) will-leave from Babilonia with joy, and I will-lead you (plur.) that you (plur.) will- not -be-harmed. As-if the mountains will-sing for joy, and as-if all the trees will-clap(-their-hands).” (Source: Hiligaynon 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 Isaiah 55:12

The Hebrew particle ki rendered For is probably an emphatic marker rather than a logical connector, since it introduces a climax. It is better translated “Indeed” or “Truly.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “Yea,” while New Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible say “Yes.” Unfortunately, many versions omit it.

You shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace: These parallel lines describe the happy release of the Israelite exiles. God restates his promise that they will leave Babylonia. Good News Translation and Bible en français courant add the name “Babylon” as the place from which the people will depart. Translators who feel that this is a useful piece of information could add it, but it is better to place it in a footnote rather than the text. You shall go out in joy means the people will celebrate as they leave Babylonia (compare 48.20; 49.13; 51.3, 11; 52.8). Be led forth in peace means God will lead them out of Babylonia without any opposition or conflict. For languages that prefer to render the passive verb be led forth as an active one, translators may specify God as the agent (see the second example below). The Hebrew word for peace (shalom) often has a wider meaning than the absence of conflict (see the comments on 26.12 and 32.17), but that narrower sense fits this context better. It will be a peaceful departure, so it will stand in direct contrast with the first Exodus, the one from Egypt. New Jerusalem Bible renders in peace as “in safety.” For New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh the first two lines of this verse are complementary: “Yea, you shall leave in joy and be led home secure.” In New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh the first line speaks about the departure of the people, while the second one focuses on their arrival. This is certainly a possible understanding.

According to the last three lines of this verse, nature will join in the celebration of the people as they return from exile.

The mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing: The mountains and hills ahead of the people will express their joy. For the word pair mountains and hills, see the comments on 2.2. Before you means in front of the people as they advance toward Jerusalem. Contemporary English Version says “as you pass by.” The Hebrew expression rendered break forth into singing means “to shout with joy” rather than “to sing a song” (see the comments on 14.7).

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands: All the trees of the field renders a Hebrew idiom that refers to every tree. In 44.23 the trees are invited to sing. Here God says they will clap their hands. In many cultures this is something humans do to express their joy and approval. Good News Translation changes the imagery by saying “the trees will shout for joy,” but such a change may not be necessary in most languages. However, if “clapping hands” does not indicate celebration in a culture, translators may follow Good News Translation‘s model.

For languages in which this poetic imagery concerning nature sounds ridiculous, a possible less figurative rendering for the last three lines is “Even the mountains and hills and all the trees will be full of joy.” Other alternative models for the whole verse are:

• “Truly, you will leave joyfully,
and be led out in safety.
Mountains and hills ahead of you will burst into song,
and all the trees will clap their hands.

• “Truly, when you depart it will be with joy,
and God [or, I] will lead you in safety.
Mountains and hills will sing loudly before you,
and every tree in the field will cheer for you.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .