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.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 29:15

“The rod and reproof give wisdom”: Physical punishment was considered essential in the training of children, as in 13.24; 22.15; and 23.13-14. For “rod” see 10.13 and 13.24. “Reproof”, as in verse 1, refers to correction or teaching. “Wisdom” here is education or good sense. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “Cane and rebuke help make [a child] smart.”

“But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother”: For “child” see 20.11. “Left to himself” renders a verb meaning to send away or dismiss, but in this context it has the sense of being left to grow up without control or discipline. For “brings shame” see 10.5. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this line “a child that is left on his own makes his mother ashamed.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “but a spoiled child embarrasses its mother”; this is expressed in one translation as “But if a child always does what he wants himself, he will make his mother have shame.”

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 29:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 29:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “If a child is advised and disciplined, (he) he will come to his senses,
    but if (he) is left/abandoned, (he) will shame his mother.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Discipline gives wisdom to a child.
    The child who does whatever he likes
    makes his mother ashamed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The spanking of a child in disciplining him can-teach him to-become-wise, but if he is just left-to-himself, he can-give disgrace to his parents.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A child who is spanked/whipped and admonished will-become-wise, but those who-are-ignored/left-alone, they will shame their mother(s) in-the-future.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “If children are punished/spanked and reproved/warned,
    they become wise;
    but if they are allowed to do whatever they want to do,
    they do things that cause their mothers to be ashamed of them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)