soul

The Hebrew, Greek, and Latin that is translated as “soul” in English is translated in Chol with a term that refers to the invisible aspects of human beings (source: Robert Bascom) and in Elhomwe as “heart” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext).

The Mandarin Chinese línghún (靈魂 / 灵魂), literally “spirit-soul,” is often used for “soul” (along with xīn [心] or “heart”). This is a term that was adopted from Buddhist sources into early Catholic writings and later also by Protestant translators. (Source: Zetzsche 1996, p. 32, see also Clara Ho-yan Chan in this article )

In Chichewa, moyo means both “soul” and “life.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also heart, soul, mind.

nurse (verb)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “nurse” in English is translated in German as stillen or “to quiet.”

The das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) and the BasisBibel (publ. 2021) also use the same verb in Psalm 131:2 (for this choice, see here).

complete verse (Psalm 131:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 131:2:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “But my life I have calmed it down
    and make it silent like a child whose mother has stopped breastfeeding,
    my life inside me is like a child who has been stopped breastfeeding.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Actually, I have kept my mind calm and quiet.
    [I am] like a child that has been weaned,
    like child who has been weaned
    sitting quietly in its mother’s lap,
    my mind has remained quiet.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “But-rather I (am) content like a weaned child who no-longer desires to suck from his/her mother.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “But instead, I gave my heart to be comforted,
    like infant who stays with his mother who stopped nursing,
    my heart stays well like a child who stays with his mother.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Bavarian by Sturmibund (publ. 1998):
    “I will now rest in myself,
    just as a child trusts in their mother: ‘You will handle it just right!'”(Source: Zetzsche)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Lakini nafsi yangu imetulia, ina na amani,
    kama vile mtoto ambaye amekua,
    ameacha kunyonya maziwa kwa mama yake,
    ndivyo ilivyo nafsi yangu, imetulia.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “Instead, I am calm and peaceful,
    like a small child who lies quietly in its mother’s arms.
    In the same way, I am peaceful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 131:2

The psalmist says he has calmed and quieted his nefesh, that is, himself, his inner being. Briggs comments: “the soul … was by deliberate action reduced to a calm, gentle, submissive, patient, and contented state.” Good News Translation “content and at peace” seems to represent the meaning. In some languages it is possible to use a direct address form and say, for example, “I said to my heart, ‘Sit down and be cool.’ ”

Child translates a Hebrew word that means “a weaned child” (so New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, New International Version, New American Bible, Jerusalem Bible; Dahood translates “infant”). The Hebrew says “like a weaned child with its mother.” But Revised Standard Version (like a child quieted at its mother’s breast) and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy take the meaning to be a younger child, before weaning, who has just finished nursing at its mother’s breast. This seems to make more sense and is supported by Briggs and Taylor; but others (Anderson, Weiser, Kirkpatrick, Cohen, Delitzsch) quite strongly reject this view and take the picture to be that of a child who has already been completely weaned and is content to be with its mother, without desiring any longer to be suckled. New International Version is “like a weaned child with its mother,” and Bible en français courant “like a child with its mother.” Translators in many languages will have to choose a form of child which indicates sex as well as age.

The next line in Hebrew is somewhat difficult to understand: “like a child upon me (is) my nefesh.” This is generally taken to mean, as Good News Translation has it, a comparison with the former line: his inner being, his spirit, is as content as a child with its mother is content. New Jerusalem Bible translates “like a weaned child am I in my mind.” New English Bible omits this line, which it translates in a footnote, “as a weaned child clinging to me.” New American Bible translates “so is my soul within me,” but places the line within brackets.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .