hate

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated in English as “hate” or a form thereof is translated in Tabasco Chontal as “don’t want to see [the person who is hated].” (Source: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)

See also hate.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 26:24

“He who hates, dissembles with his lips”: “He who hates” refers to “an enemy.” “Dissembles” renders a verb meaning “to speak something that is different than what the person thinks,” that is, “to be a hypocrite.”

“And harbors deceit in his heart”: “Harbors” is literally “puts” or “stores up.” “Deceit” is “treachery” (New Jerusalem Bible) or a plan to cause harm (Contemporary English Version “evil plans”). “His heart” is literally “inside of him.” Scott translates “A man filled with hate disguises it in his words, while inwardly he plots to betray you.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “He who hates hides it when he speaks, but in his insides he makes evil plans.”

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 .

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin) and in Apinayé as “person next to one” (source: Patricia Ham in Notes on Translation, August 1965, p. 2).

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

In Cherokee it is either translated as “the one(s) who reprimand(s) you” or “the one(s) feared.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 47)

complete verse (Proverbs 26:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 26:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person with a black stomach flatters people.
    But he conceals evil inside.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The wicked utter tasty words,
    but the thoughts in their hearts are repulsive.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “An enemy is good in talking, but in-fact/[surprise particle] he thinks to cheat.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “An enemy speaks hypocritically (lit. fake good) in-order-to cover-up his hatred.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who hate someone and are saying something very different from what they are thinking are hypocrites;
    they are only planning to harm that person.” (Source: Translation for Translators)