steadfast love

The Hebrew that is translated as “steadfast love,” “lovingkindness” (Goldingay 2018: “commitment”) or similar in English is translated in a number of ways:

  • Vidunda: “love of enduring” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Bura-Pabir: “love which cannot be-changed” (hyirkur na a palidzi wa)
  • Hausa Common Language Bible “his love without changing” (kaunarsa marar canjawa) (source for this and above: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
  • Elhomwe: “love that does not finish” (echikondi yoohisintheya) (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Nyamwezi: chelu, combining “love,” “faithfulness,” “loyalty,” and “kindness” (source: James Lundeen)
  • Newari: dayāmāyā (दयामाया), a compound word made from two Sanskrit-derived terms: dayā (दया) or “compassion, mercy, kindness” and māyā (माया) or “love, affection” (source: Newari Back Translation)

In Pijin tinghevi long or “think heavy about” is used. “The Pijin expression ‘think heavy about’ is very much within the domain of committed relationships. The relationship between father and child, husband and wife, God and His people. There is a very strong element of ‘loyalty’ in this expression.” (Source: Bob Carter)

In Latvian the term žēlastība is used both for “steadfast love” and grace.

In a number of languages, the terms for for “steadfast love” and mercy are used interchangeably.

mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan, Friulian) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love and Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

complete verse (Proverbs 20:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 20:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “There are many people who say they can be trusted,
    but it is hard to find a person who has (the) truth.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Everyone claims that he is a trustworthy person.
    But can anyone find such a person?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Many will-say that they are kind/good, but is there among them that can-be-trusted?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Many say they are trustworthy, but is-there anyone who is able-to-find a truly trustworthy person?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Many people proclaim that they can be trusted to do what they say that they will do,
    but it is very difficult to find someone who can really be trusted.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 20:6

This is another observation about human nature, in this case pointing out the contrast between what people claim to be and what they really are, or between words and behavior.

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty”: “Many a man” means “many people” or possibly “Everyone” (Good News Translation). This is a comment on human nature in general, so another possible rendering is “People say. . ..” The sense of “proclaims his own loyalty” is “claim that they can be trusted.” “Loyalty” renders the Hebrew word chesed, which means faithful love in a relationship, so it may point in particular to giving help and sympathy to another person in time of need. In line with this some translations say something like “Many people say that they love their friends.” However, the parallel expression in line 2 does mean “trustworthy,” and it is therefore quite likely that this is the sense intended here in line 1 also. So Contemporary English Version has “There are many who say ‘You can trust me!'”

“But a faithful man who can find?”: This Revised Standard Version rendering is not natural English (and New International Version is the same). The literal Hebrew is better expressed in New Jerusalem Bible, “but who can find someone really to be trusted?” The Hebrew form is a rhetorical question that actually has the meaning that it is impossible to find any person who is really trustworthy. English versions generally render this as a question, but it is also possible to express the meaning as a statement; for example, “But there are very few who are faithful friends” or “But if you look for this kind of person, you can’t find one.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 20:6

20:6

In this proverb, the two lines contrast, but the underlined parallel parts are similar in meaning. They do not contrast.

6a Many a man proclaims his loving devotion,

6b but who can find a trustworthy man?

This proverb contrasts what people claim to be and what they are actually like. Many people claim to be loyal to others. But it is very difficult to find someone who is truly loyal.

20:6a

Many a man proclaims his loving devotion: The phrase Many a man refers to people in general. Most people describe themselves as loyal to their friends and family. They say that they can be trusted to show love and kindness to others. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Many describe themselves as people of faithful love (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Many will say they are loyal friends (New Living Translation (2004))

loving devotion: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as loving devotion has three aspects of meaning: loyalty, love, and kindness. The Berean Standard Bible and New Jerusalem Bible both express two aspects of meaning. In some languages, it may be more natural to express only one aspect of meaning. If that is true in your language, you should focus on loyalty because of the parallel with “faithful” in 20:6b. See the note on “love” in 3:3a.

20:6b

but who can find a trustworthy man?: This is a rhetorical question that contains hyperbole. The implied answer is that no one can find a faithful man.

The function of this rhetorical question is to emphasize the contrast with 20:6a. Although many people claim to be loyal, few if any are truly trustworthy and reliable. It is difficult to find even one person who is truly loyal.

Some ways to express this emphatic contrast are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

but who can find one who is truly reliable? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement. For example:

but it is hard to find a trustworthy person (New Century Version)

General Comment on 20:6a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

There are many who say, “You can trust me!” But can they be trusted? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is! (Good News Translation)

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