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 6:18

My son: The writer is addressing the reader as a student; see the comments on 2.1.

From your youth up choose instruction: For instruction see the comments on 1.27. Choosing instruction, or discipline, education, is described in Good News Translation as “learn to value Wisdom,” and Contemporary English Version as “be disciplined and learn Wisdom.” “Wisdom” is the wrong choice of words. This word needs to be reserved for the Greek term meaning “wisdom,” and both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version miss the point by combining their translation with the Greek term for instruction. In our youth we do not attain Wisdom. In our youth we can, at best, choose the discipline of education, of learning, of study, of application. This is what ben Sira says in the first line. Better models for this clause are “while you are young, learn the value of an education,” “… appreciate the value of learning,” and even “… learn just how important education [or, discipline] is.”

And until you are old you will keep finding wisdom: Here is where wisdom fits in—later in the quest. Until you are old is literally “until gray hairs.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Students, while you are young, learn the value of discipline, and you will still be discovering wisdom when you are old and gray-headed.

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.