anger

Click here to view graphically

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “anger” or similar in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied”).

  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “be warm inside”
  • Mende: “have a cut heart”
  • Mískito: “have a split heart”
  • Tzotzil: “have a hot heart”
  • Mossi: “a swollen heart”
  • Western Kanjobal: “fire of the viscera”
  • San Blas Kuna: “pain in the heart”
  • Chimborazo Highland Quichua: “not with good eye”
  • Chichewa: “have a burning heart” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) (see also anger burned in him)
  • Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)

In Akan, a number of metaphors are used, most importantly abufuo, lit. “weedy chest” (the chest is seen as a container that contains the heart but can also metaphorically be filled with other fluids etc.), but also abufuhyeε lit. “hot/burning weedy chest” and anibereε, lit. “reddened eyes.” (Source: Gladys Nyarko Ansah in Kövecses / Benczes / Szelid 2024, p. 21ff.)

See also God’s anger and angry.

Translation commentary on Judith 5:2

He was very angry: The author speaks strongly here about the anger of Holofernes. “Boiled over with anger” in Good News Translation captures the mood well, but the translator of course must realize that this is an English metaphor. Translators should try to find suitable metaphors in their language; for example, “his nose got very hot” or “his liver seethed with anger.”

So he called together: Holofernes is apparently still at his camp between Geba and Scythopolis (see 3.10). His calling the commanders together is the result of what he had heard. Some translators will find it natural to use a connector like So here.

All the princes of Moab and the commanders of Ammon and all the governors of the coastland: Good News Translation has “rulers … generals … governors,” and Contemporary English Version “leaders … army commanders … rulers.” The author does not use technical terms, each one chosen to go with a particular area. These are general terms, chosen to vary the vocabulary and impress the reader with Holofernes’ diplomatic resources. Translators should try to use three different terms if possible. The term commanders used with Ammon does indicate a high military office, but this is incidental. Moab was directly east of the Dead Sea. Ammon was north of Moab. Any representatives of the coastland would have been in the old Philistine country along the Mediterranean coast. Holofernes is camped in the north, at the Jezreel Valley (see 3.9-10). He calls on these people not because they are nearby, but because they have had long historical experience with the Israelites. Good News Translation‘s “You live in Canaan, so tell me…” in the next verse neatly establishes this for the reader.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.