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 .

complete verse (Isaiah 57:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 57:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “and they go to where there is peace.
    The righteous shall rest
    there on their beds.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Even when the ones who go on the good path die, they will have peace and rest.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “For if a righteous man dies, he has now peace and rest.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 57:2

The verse is difficult to interpret. It begins with he enters into peace. This could also be translated “peace will come.” However, most versions agree with the sense in Revised Standard Version. The righteous person enters into the realm of peace. Peace (shalom in Hebrew) could refer to the state of well-being he enjoyed while alive or to the peacefulness he has after he dies.

They rest in their beds: The pronouns they and their could refer back to the “devout men” in the previous verse, but most versions view them as pointing forward to the upright people mentioned in the next line. For some versions this line means they rest in peace in their graves; for example, Good News Translation says “rest in death,” and New International Version has “they find rest as they lie in death” (compare 2 Chr 16.14, where the Hebrew word for beds is rendered “bier”; see also Ezek 32.25, where it clearly has the sense of “grave”). But for other versions it means they are able to sleep peacefully; for example, New Jerusalem Bible says “will find rest on their beds,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “He shall have rest on his couch.” Translators may follow either sense.

Who walk in their uprightness is literally “one who walks his being straight.” The meaning of this line is uncertain. It could refer to the righteous person, but most versions use a plural expression referring to upright people, as in Revised Standard Version. The Hebrew adjective rendered uprightness describes someone who is obedient to God’s laws (see the comments on 26.10). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “Who walked straightforward,” and Good News Translation has “Those who live good lives.”

For this verse translators may follow a major version that is familiar to their audience. However, they should include a footnote that offers alternatives since the meaning of this verse is uncertain in Hebrew.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• He enters a peaceful state.
Those who walk straight,
they rest/remain in their beds [or, graves/coffins].

• He goes to where there is peace.
The people who walk a straight path
rest on their beds.

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 .