wisdom

Click here to view graphically

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)
  • Kako: “heart thinking” (source: Reyburn 2002, p. 190)

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 HSL Bible Translation Group):


“Wisdom” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

See also wisdom (Proverbs) and knowledge.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 14:33

This saying expresses the idea that intelligent people, in contrast to the foolish, possess wisdom.

“Wisdom abides in the mind of a man of understanding”: “Abides in the mind” is literally “rests [settles down] in the heart.” New English Bible/Revised English Bible say “Wisdom is at home in . . . mind,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “Wisdom resides in . . . heart.” “A man of understanding” may be expressed as “an intelligent person,” “thoughtful people,” or “people with good sense” (see 1.5).

“But it is not known in the heart of fools”: In this line the Hebrew text has no word equivalent to “not”. See Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation footnotes. “Heart” translates a word that refers generally to the inner parts of the body, but is used here as the seat of thought and emotion. In some languages this is the stomach, spleen, liver, or kidneys. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project suggests two interpretations based upon the Hebrew text: “and even among fools is she [wisdom] known” or “but in the mind of fools she [wisdom] makes herself known.” Most modern translations, like Good News Translation, follow the Septuagint. In this case we may say, for example, “but fools know nothing about wisdom.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 14:33)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 14:33:

  • Kupsabiny: “An understanding person stays/lives with wisdom,
    but the foolish does not welcome (it).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Wisdom dwells only in people
    who have insight,
    As for wisdom,
    fools don’t know what it is.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Wisdom is there in the mind of a man who has understanding, but the fools do- not -know anything about wisdom.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The thinking/reflective person can-be-compared to a proper dwelling-place of wisdom, but wisdom can absolutely not be-found in the mind of a fool.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who have good sense always think what is wise;
    foolish people do not know anything about being wise.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 14:33

14:33

The New Revised Standard Version has been used as the source line for 14:33b because it follows the textual recommendation. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

33a Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning,

33b but it is not known in the heart of fools.

14:33a

Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning: In this clause, Wisdom is personified. It is described as someone who feels at home in the heart/mind of a discerning person. For more information on “heart/mind,” see the note on 10:20b.

If personification is not natural in your language, some other ways to translate this are:

• Change the implied metaphor of wisdom residing in a person’s heart to a simile. For example:

The mind/heart of a sensible/intelligent person is like a house where wisdom always resides

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

Wisdom is in every thought of intelligent people (Good News Translation)

rests: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rests means to settle down or feel at home in a particular place. Other ways to translate this word are:

reposes (New International Version)
-or-
resides (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
is at home (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
finds rest (God’s Word)

the discerning: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the discerning refers to someone who is perceptive, intelligent or sensible. Such a person has the ability to understand ideas and is able to distinguish right from wrong.

14:33b

(New Revised Standard Version) but it is not known in the heart of fools: There are two main textual differences in this line:

(1) The LXX and Syriac have: “but it is not known among (or: in the heart of) fools.” This means that fools are not wise. For example:

she is not to be found in the hearts of fools (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
fools know nothing about wisdom (Good News Translation)

(2) The Masoretic Text (MT) has: “and it is known among (or: in the heart of) fools.” This seems to mean that fools are wise. But this meaning would contradict the teaching of other verses in Proverbs. So most versions that follow the MT interpret it to mean that wisdom makes herself known even to fools. For example:

and even fools recognize it (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). There are several reasons:

(a) This option does not require the addition of the word “even.”

(b) It also follows the normal usage of “is known” (experientially).

(c) It fits the normal contrast in Proverbs between a sensible person who has wisdom and a fool who lacks wisdom.

fools:

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.