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 40:19

Good News Translation is longer here than Revised Standard Version, since it includes two lines from the Hebrew text which are missing from the Greek. The inclusion makes a great deal of sense in the context; it makes for a series of ten pairs of joys rather than nine, and the omission can be easily explained. The Handbook believes the two lines are original and should be translated. We recommend following Good News Translation (also New Revised Standard Version).

Children and the building of a city establish a man’s name: How will you be remembered after your death? If you have children, they will of course remember you. Also, if you are especially important, a city might be named for you (such as Alexandria or Washington). A possible alternative model of this line is “You can preserve your name if you have children or build a city.”

“But finding Wisdom is a better way” (Good News Translation): In 39.9-11 ben Sira spoke of how the wise will be remembered long after they die. For a discussion on how to handle the personification of “Wisdom” here, see the comments on 1.1.

“Owning livestock and orchards will make you famous” (Good News Translation): “Livestock” refers to animals that are herded on a farm, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. “Orchards” are groups of fruit trees planted as crops. Instead of “make you famous,” it would be better to say “make you prosperous.” A footnote, such as the one in Good News Translation, should appear at the end of this line to advise that this line and the previous one are not in the Greek text.

But a blameless wife is accounted better than both: Good News Translation “but it is better to have a wife you love” reads the Hebrew. It is possible that the Hebrew word for “beloved” was mistaken for a similar word meaning “is accounted.” This is a hard choice to make, and translators may go with the Greek as in Revised Standard Version or the Hebrew as in Good News Translation. If a translator chooses Revised Standard Version, the word blameless describes a wife who is irreproachable, one in whom you can find no fault, therefore “perfect.” The Handbook, however, recommends Good News Translation‘s approach.

An alternative model of this verse that incorporates ideas from Good News Translation is the following:

• You can preserve your name if you have children or build a city. But finding wisdom is a better way.
Owning livestock and orchards will make you prosperous, * but it is better to have a wife you love.
* Hebrew: But finding wisdom … prosperous; Greek does not have these words.

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.