wisdom

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “wisdom” in English is rendered in various ways:

  • Amganad Ifugao / Tabasco Chontal: “(big) mind”
  • Bulu / Yamba: “heart-thinking”
  • Tae’: “cleverness of heart” (source for this and all above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Palauan: “bright spirit (innermost)” (source: Bratcher / Hatton)
  • Ixcatlán Mazatec: “with your best/biggest thinking” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Noongar: dwangka-boola, lit. “ear much” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018 — see also remember)
  • Kwere “to know how to live well” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Dobel: “their ear holes are long-lasting” (in Acts 6:3) (source: Jock Hughes)
  • Gbaya: iŋa-mgbara-mɔ or “knowing-about-things” (note that in comparison to that, “knowledge” is translated as iŋa-mɔ or “knowing things”) (source: Philip Noss in The Bible Translator 2001, p. 114ff. )
  • Chichewa: nzeru, meaning both “knowledge” and “wisdom” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Uma: “clearness” (source: Uma Back Translation)

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a hand gesture referring to God to indicate a human quality to communicate that wisdom does not originate from man but is linked to and connected with the fear of God (source: Jenjelvi Biblia and Andrea Bokros):


“Wisdom” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

See also wisdom (Proverbs) and knowledge.

complete verse (Job 15:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 15:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “Were you in heaven giving advice to God?
    Or again, are you the only one who is wise in the world?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Have you heard the secret counsels of God?
    Or have you only kept all the words of wisdom for yourself?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Have- you (sing.) -heard the plans of God? Are you (sing.) alone the wise-one?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Job 15:8

Have you listened in the council of God?: listened refers to listening to the talk that takes place in the council where God’s plans are made. Council of God is the same assembly of heavenly beings described in 1.6; 2.1. See discussion there. This line may be rendered, for example, “When God held his council in the heavens, were you there listening?” “Did you hear God’s plans discussed in his meeting in the heavens?” or “Were you there listening when God and his messengers held their meeting in the heavens?”

And do you limit wisdom to yourself?: limit translates the verb rendered “do away with” in verse 4, but here it has the meaning of attracting to oneself, of getting all there is. Dhorme therefore translates “Have you a monopoly on wisdom?” New English Bible has “usurp all wisdom for yourself alone?” Good News Translation “belong to you alone” is clear and adequate. For discussion of wisdom see 11.6. This line may also be expressed, for example, “Are you the only human who has wisdom?” “Are you the only person who is wise?” or “Is there no one else in the world but you who is wise?”

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 .