neighbor

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “neighbor” in English is rendered into Babatana as “different man,” i.e. someone who is not one of your relatives. (Source: David Clark)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun, it is rendered as “a person outside of your building,” in Tzeltal as “your back and side” (implying position of the dwellings), in Indonesian and in Tae’ as “your fellow-man,” in Toraja-Sa’dan it is “your fellow earth-dweller,” in Shona (translation of 1966) as “another person like you,” in Kekchí “younger-brother-older-brother” (a compound which means all one’s neighbors in a community) (sources: Bratcher / Nida and Reiling / Swellengrebel), in Mairasi “your people” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Mezquital Otomi as “fellow being,” in Tzeltal as “companion,” in Isthmus Zapotec as “another,” in Teutila Cuicatec as “all people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), and in most modern German translations as Mitmensch or “fellow human being” (lit. “with + human being”).

In Matt 19:19, Matt 22:39, Mark 12:31, Mark 12:33, Luke 10:27, Luke 10:29 it is translated into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that refers to a person who is socially/physically near. Ixcatlán Mazatec also has a another term for “neighbor” that means “fellow humans-outsiders” which was not chosen for these passages. (Source: Robert Bascom)

In Noongar it is translated as moorta-boordak or “people nearby” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

neighbor - relative

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “neighbor” or “relative” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) and the Buku Lopatulika translation (1922/2018) with just one word: nansi. This word can also be translated as neighbors whom you share a blood relation with because in Chewa context a community is mostly comprised of people of blood relations. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 3:28

“Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again. . .””: This verse is an encouragement to give promptly and willingly. “Your neighbor” may be another person, someone you interact with, a fellow citizen, or, more intimately, a friend or companion. Verse 27 shows this to be a person who has need of something. “Go and come again” or “Go away and come back later” is the first part of what is not to be said to the person in need.

“Tomorrow I will give it” is the completion of the quote and a way to delay acting on the neighbor’s request or need.

“When you have it with you”: “It” refers to the thing that has been requested or the thing that the neighbor is in need of. “You” is the person who is addressed by the teacher of wisdom, and who is cautioned not to behave in this way.

Translators may find it awkward to translate this verse in the Revised Standard Version form. By switching to indirect address it may be possible to get a clearer expression of the meaning. For example, Contemporary English Version has “Don’t tell your neighbor to come back tomorrow, if you can help today.”

In some cases this may need to be expanded to say, for example, “Don’t tell your neighbor to come back tomorrow to get something, if you can give it to him today.”

As in the previous verse, it will be more natural in some languages to put the last clause at the beginning: “If you are able to help your neighbor when he asks for something, don’t say, ‘Come back tomorrow and I will give it to you.’”

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 3:28

3:28

As in 3:27, the second line of this verse completes the thought of the first line. It specifies the circumstance in which a person should not delay in helping his neighbor. Also notice that 3:28 is parallel to 3:27. The command in Proverbs 3:28 is similar to the command in 3:27, but it is more specific.

28a Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—

28b when you already have the means.

3:28a–b

Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means: This verse refers to the same situation as 3:27. It refers to a person who owes some good to his neighbor. If this person is able to give his neighbor what he deserves, he should do it when the neighbor requests it. He should not delay by telling him to return the next day.

neighbor: In Hebrew, this word can refer to anyone with whom one interacts. It can include a close friend or someone who is only an acquaintance. It does not refer only to a person who lives nearby.

tomorrow: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tomorrow may also have a more general meaning. It may refer to another day or another opportunity.

The Berean Standard Bible translates this verse with a direct quote. The Good News Translation uses an indirect quote. It has:

Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.

You should use whatever is more effective in your language for this context.

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