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 ("word 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 c’op or “word wisdom.”

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

See also buy wisdom.

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 5:1

“My son, be attentive to my wisdom”: Note that Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version have “My child,” although the person addressed in this chapter has a wife (verses 15-20). Contemporary English Version, which has also used “my child” in previous chapters, recognizes that “child” is not appropriate in this chapter and has changed to “My son.” “Be attentive” is as in 4.1 and 20. “My wisdom” means “the wisdom I teach” or “the wise things I say.”

“Incline your ear to my understanding”: For “incline . . . ear” see 2.2 and 4.20. “My understanding” refers to what the teacher understands and passes on to his pupils and so refers to the content of the education he gives, that is, “my teachings” or “what I teach you.” This is essentially the same as “my wisdom” in the first line.

If the two lines of the verse would be too repetitive in translation, or if it is difficult to find alternative words for “wisdom” and “understanding”, it may be desirable to restructure in the way Good News Translation does, linking the two verbs together and then the two nouns. Because of the way the sentence continues in the next verse, translations in some languages restructure the second line to say, for example, “I want to give you good thoughts and understanding (2) so that you will. . ..”

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 5:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 5:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “My child, listen to the word of wisdom that I tell you. Be attentive to that word.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O my son
    Listen carefully to my wisdom.
    Listen well to my words of insight.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Child, listen carefully to my words with wisdom,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My child, be-thorough/diligent to listen to my advice from-which-you (sing.)-will-get wisdom” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 5:1

Section 5:1–23

Eighth lesson: Avoid the temptation to commit adultery

A summary of this lesson is: Stay away from a woman who commits adultery, or you will bitterly regret it (5:1–14). Instead, be delighted with your own wife (5:15–20), because the LORD sees everything you do and will punish wickedness (5:21–23).

Some other headings for this section are:

Advice to stay away from a woman who commits adultery
-or-
Warning About Adultery (New Century Version)
-or-
Avoid Adultery (God’s Word)
-or-
Be Faithful to Your Wife (Contemporary English Version)

Paragraph 5:1–6

In this paragraph, the father urges the son to pay attention to his wise words (5:1) so that he will always be cautious and sensible in what he does and says (5:2). The reason for this caution is that it will enable him to resist the tempting invitation of the adulteress whose path leads straight to death (5:3–6).

5:1

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1a My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

1b
incline your ear to my insight,

5:1a–b

My son: See the note at 1:8a.

pay attention…incline your ear: These two parallel commands are identical to the commands used in 4:20.

my wisdom…my insight: The phrases my wisdom and my insight are parallel. Together, both phrases refer to the father’s words, which express or contain his wisdom and good sense. Another way to translate these phrases is:

my wise words…my insightful words
-or-
my words that contain my wisdom…my advice that makes known my good sense

Other ways to translate these two commands are:

1a My son, I am wise, so listen carefully to my advice.

1b I have good sense, so pay attention to what I teach you.

wisdom: The word wisdom indicates a person’s skill/ability to make good decisions, to act properly, and to do what is right in any situation.

insight: In this context, the Hebrew word tǝbunah, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as insight, refers to “competence” or “good sense” to handle the situations that a person faces in life. Both the Berean Standard Bible and the New Revised Standard Version usually translate this word as “understanding.” It is not the same word that the New Revised Standard Version usually translates as “insight.”

General Comment on 5:1a–b

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

My child, pay attention and listen to my words of wisdom and good sense.

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