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)
  • 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.

wisdom ("head wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” in English. For the verses referenced here, it uses p’ijil jol or “head wisdom.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

understanding ("head wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” in English. One of them is p’ijil jol or “word wisdom” which is also used for “understanding,” good sense,” “intelligent,” or “insight.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

Translation commentary on Proverbs 24:3

“By wisdom a house is built”: “Wisdom” is used in the sense of practical skill and management here. “A house” should probably be taken literally as referring to the building; it is possible, however, that it may refer to the family, as Good News Translation “Homes” suggests, and in this case “wisdom” may include a moral element in addition to its practical sense. The structure of the sentence in Revised Standard Version may seem to give the meaning “Wisdom builds a house”; but in fact the sense of the preposition “By” is that people build the house “through wise skill” (Scott) or “by using wisdom.”

“And by understanding it is established”: For “understanding” see 1.5 and 2.2, where it is also parallel to “wisdom”, as here. The pronoun “it” refers back to “house” in the previous line. “Established” is parallel to “built” in the previous line; it has the sense of “make firm” or “make secure,” thinking particularly of the foundations in the case of a house. Scott translates this line “And by understanding it is set firm upon its foundation.” Other suitable renderings of “established” are “made strong” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “makes it secure” (Revised English Bible).

In some languages it is necessary to refer to the owner or person who builds the house; one translation, for example, says, “A person who has good thinking and skill will have a good house, and his family will become strong.”

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 24:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 24:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “A house/family is built through wisdom and stands based on understanding.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A house is established on a foundation of wisdom,
    and made strong by deep thoughts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) are wise, you (sing.) can-establish and cause- your (sing.) household -to-prosper.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “By-means-of wisdom and understanding, a house is erected and becomes-firm/sturdy.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 24:3

Paragraph 24:3–4 Saying 20

This saying teaches that a person needs to have wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to build and furnish a house. The saying refers mainly to a literal house and the nice things that are put in its rooms. But it also implies a stable and prosperous household.

24:3–4

In Hebrew, these verses have four poetic lines. But they form three parallel clauses (verse 4a–b is a single clause). Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

3a
By wisdom a house is built

3b and by understanding it is established;

4a
through knowledge its rooms are filled

4b
with every precious and beautiful treasure.

The parallel lines describe the overall process of building a sturdy house (3a–b) and furnishing it with nice things (4a–b). A person accomplishes each part of the process by means of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.

24:3a

wisdom: In Hebrew, this word refers here to a person’s ability to make good decisions and to earn a good livelihood. It also refers to the skill that he needs to build a house.

a house is built: In this context, this clause implies that the house is spacious and well built.

Another way to translate 24:3a is:

By means of wisdom, a person can build a ⌊fine⌋ house/home.

24:3b

understanding: In Hebrew, this word refers to a person’s good sense or competence.

it is established: This clause emphasizes that the house will be stable, solid, and strong. It may refer specifically to the way that it is set firmly in place on its foundation.

Some other ways to translate 24:3a are:

by understanding it is made strong (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
By means of good sense, he sets/builds it securely ⌊on its foundation⌋

In areas where houses are built on posts, you may decide to use a term such as “house posts” instead of “foundation.”

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