Hades / Sheol

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is often translated in English as “Hades” or “Sheol” is translated in the German Luther Bible 2017 (and pre-1912) as Totenreich or “realm (or: kingdom) of the dead” in these verses. (Source: Jost Zetzsche)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Sheol .

God's anger, wrath of God

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated into English as “the wrath of God” or “God’s anger” has to be referred to in Bengali as judgment, punishment or whatever fits the context. In Bengali culture, anger is by definition bad and can never be predicated of God. (Source: David Clark)

Translations in other languages:

  • Quetzaltepec Mixe: “translated with a term that not only expresses anger, but also punishment” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “the coming punishment of God on mankind” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “God’s fearful/terrible future punishing of people” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “the coming anger/hatred of God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “the punishment which will come” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “God’s action of anger comes forth in the open” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Mairasi: “His anger keeps increasing (until it will definitely arrive)” (source: Enggavoter 2004)

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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御) is used as in mi-ikari (御怒り) or “wrath (of God)” in the referenced verses. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also anger and the coming wrath.

complete verse (Job 14:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 14:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “I wish you would throw me to the underworld,
    for me to stay there until your anger has subsided,
    and then prepare an opportunity for you to save me.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you would hide me in the grave
    and if you would hide me until your anger subsides,
    then, having decided on a time for me,
    how nice it would be if [you] would remember me. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘O LORD, wish that you (sing.) would just hide me in the place of the dead-ones till your (sing.) anger has-passed, and you (sing.) would-set-up a time to remember me there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Japanese benefactives (oboete)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, oboete (覚えて) or “remember” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Job 14:13

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol: in sharp contrast to verses 7-12, which hold out no hope of future life for people, Job now longs for future fellowship with God. The construction in this line is an idiom that suggests that Job realizes that his wish is unlikely to be granted. Hide means to place Job in a position of safety in Sheol where he will be free from his present sufferings. For Sheol see 7.9. It may be necessary to restructure the line to make clear that hiding Job in Sheol is for his safekeeping; for example, “I wish you would keep me safe in Sheol” or “If only you would hide and protect me in the place of the dead.”

That thou wouldest conceal me until thy wrath be past: conceal has the same meaning as hide in the previous line. The thought moves forward to a time when thy wrath be past, or as Good News Translation says, “until your anger is over,” or we may also say “until you have stopped being angry at me.”

That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!: a set time translates the same word rendered “bounds” in verse 5. It refers here to a certain time to be fixed. Job is asking God to fix a limit for his time to spend in Sheol. And remember me!: God would remember, keep his word with Job, that the end for the time in Sheol would be as agreed. The second half of verse 13 may have to be recast to make clear what God is to remember. This may need to be expressed, for example, “I wish you would set the number of days for me to spend there (in Sheol) and not forget me” or “… remember that I am waiting for you there.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .