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 61:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 61:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “My people shall prosper without getting shame,
    they shall be happy in their land without being mocked.
    They shall get big wealth
    and always rejoice.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Instead of their shame, you will have a double blessing,
    and instead of scorn, you will be rejoicing in your possessions.
    So in your own land you will have a double claim,
    and there will be everlasting joy for you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Instead that you (plur.) will-be-put-to-shame, the blessings which you (plur.) will-receive from your (plur.) land will-be-doubled, and you (plur.) will-be- very -happy of what you (plur.) will-receive. Your (plur.) happiness will-continue forever/[lit. until whenever].” (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 61:7

The “reversal” theme of verse 3 continues here with the use of the preposition Instead of. The present situation of Judah’s people will be turned around. The repetition of the phrase double portion emphasizes the certainty and extent of God’s blessing on them. This “double” blessing recalls the “double” punishment they received for their sins (see 40.2).

In the Hebrew text there is a switch from second person plural pronouns for the people of Judah in the first line to third person plural pronouns in the remainder of the verse (see the RSV footnotes). This kind of switch between second and third person happens often in poetry, so it should not be considered significant. Translators may use second person throughout (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Bible en français courant) or third person (so Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible), so that both halves of the verse are consistent with each other. New Jerusalem Bible is one of the few versions that reflect this pronoun change. We recommend second person throughout.

Instead of your shame you shall have a double portion: This line uses hyperbole to stress the promise of a better future for the people of Judah. Great blessing will replace disgrace. Your shame probably refers to their punishment of being sent into exile (see 54.4). A double portion is most likely a double portion of land (see the third line). The people lost their land when they were in exile, but now they can expect a double share, which implies God will restore their land and also extend it (compare 54.2-3). However, translators do not need to make the idea of land explicit here. A double portion may be rendered “a great reward/gain/profit/blessing.”

Instead of dishonor you shall rejoice in your lot is parallel to the previous line. Joy will replace humiliation. The preposition instead of is not in the Hebrew text, but it is clearly implied. The Hebrew word for dishonor refers to being insulted and despised by others (see 50.6, where it is rendered “shame”). You shall rejoice in your lot means the people will be happy with their land.

New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Bible en français courant have a different understanding of the first two lines of this verse. These versions consider the Hebrew preposition rendered Instead of to be a logical connector meaning “Because.” So there is no sense of shame and dishonor being replaced. Rather, the people are presently experiencing them. For these two lines New Revised Standard Version has “Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This interpretation requires that the New Revised Standard Version emend the second line. Revised English Bible emends it in a different way, saying “and insults and abuse have been my people’s lot” (similarly Bible en français courant). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rejects such emendations. It is also unlikely from a grammatical point of view that the Hebrew preposition at the beginning of this verse can be a logical connector.

Therefore in your land you shall possess a double portion: The connector therefore (literally “and”) introduces the result of God’s action to reverse the present suffering of his people. New International Version renders it “and so.” As noted above, a double portion probably refers to a double portion of land. God promises twice as much land as before to each exile that has returned.

Yours shall be everlasting joy: Because of Yahweh’s “everlasting covenant” with his people (verse 8), they will experience eternal happiness. Presently they are depressed and wondering just when God will fulfill his promise to them. Instead of being sad, they will be happy forever. For everlasting joy, see 35.10 and 51.11.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Instead of shame you will receive a double portion,
instead of humiliation you will be happy with your portion;
and so your land will be doubled
and you will rejoice forever.

• Instead of disgrace your portion will be doubled,
instead of humiliation your lot will give you happiness;
and so you will possess a double portion of land,
and rejoice forevermore.

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 .