the anger of the LORD was kindled against them

The Hebrew that is translated as “the anger of the Lord was kindled against them” or similar in English is translated in Bura-Pabir as MTHLAKU ku ɓzi ka duna ata kəra ɗa or “the Lord did take heart on their head,” a Bura idiom that describes something similar to the Hebrew idiom used here. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

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.

anger

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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.

complete verse (Numbers 12:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 12:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then God became angry with them and went away.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Seeing them, the LORD became very angry. Then He went from there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The LORD was- very -angry with them, and he left.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Yahweh was very angry with Miriam and Aaron, and he left.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 12:9 - 12:10

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them: For this figurative expression of the LORD’s burning anger, see the comments on verse 11.1.

And he departed; and when the cloud removed from over the tent: Good News Translation says “and so as he departed and the cloud left the Tent.” A more accurate rendering is “and he [the LORD] departed. When the cloud lifted from over the Tent.” This model helps to show that the LORD’s departure and the cloud’s removal go together. The first three clauses of verses 9-10 are closely connected in the Hebrew as a dramatic way of building up to the climactic behold.

Behold, Miriam was leprous: The Hebrew sentence structure here and the word for behold (hinneh) indicate that Miriam’s disease came suddenly, immediately when the cloud left. Good News Translation renders behold as “suddenly,” but other languages may have another way of introducing the dramatic revelation here, perhaps quite close to the original; for example, Chewa says “just have a look!” For the Hebrew word rendered leprous, see the comments on “leper” at 5.2.

As white as snow is literally “as snow” (NET Bible), so the point of comparison between Miriam’s skin and snow is not necessarily the color white, but rather the damp, watery appearance of melting snow. As a footnote in NET Bible points out, wetness or moistness could also be in view, referring to open wounds and sores of pus. This idea seems to be suggested by Aaron’s later figurative description in verse 12. If skin color or quality had been an issue when Miriam called attention to Moses’ Cushite wife, she was now appropriately punished.

And Aaron turned towards Miriam, and behold, she was leprous: The description of what happened to Miriam is repeated from Aaron’s perspective (the first time perhaps being that of Moses himself). Good News Translation removes some of the repetition here by rendering and behold, she was leprous as “and saw that she was covered with the disease,” but in some languages it may be retained for emphasis.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .