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 Sirach 18:28

Every intelligent man knows wisdom: At first this seems to be saying “Smart people are smart,” which is not particularly profound. But it means precisely what Good News Translation says: “Every intelligent person can recognize wisdom.” Intelligent people can recognize wisdom in other people; when someone does something or says something that is wise, an intelligent person will recognize it. This line may be expanded to “Intelligent people can recognize when other people do or say something that is wise.”

And he praises the one who finds her: Good News Translation‘s translation here is smooth and natural; rather than use the pronoun he as subject of the line, a simple “and” makes it clear that “Every intelligent person” is still the subject. The Greek verb for praises can be translated with a present tense, but the future tense sounds more natural in English (so Good News Translation). “Shows it” (Good News Translation) means “demonstrates wisdom.” Notice that Good News Translation uses the pronoun “it” to refer to “wisdom” rather than the pronoun her, nor does Good News Translation capitalize “wisdom” as it often does. That is because wisdom is not personified here, as it is in passages such as 1.1-20. Refer to the comments on 1.1.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Intelligent people can recognize when other people do or say something that it wise. And they will honor [or, praise] anyone who shows wisdom.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.