soul

The Hebrew, Greek, Ge’ez, 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), in Yagaria with oune or “shadow, reflection” (source: Renck, p. 81), 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.

Translation commentary on Wisdom 10:7

Evidence of their wickedness still remains: Sodom and Gomorrah were located near the southern end of the Dead Sea. Other Jewish writers from our author’s time speak of the desolation of that area as a witness to the burning of the cities described in Gen 19. Good News Translation is good with “You can still see the evidence of their wickedness.”

A continually smoking wasteland: This describes a landscape that has been burned over, but is still hot enough to be smoking. This land was unproductive or unfruitful as Good News Translation “barren” indicates. So we may translate this line in some languages as “It is an unfruitful wilderness with smoke rising from it.”

Plants bearing fruit that does not ripen: This is a further indication of the desolation. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote of the apples of Sodom: they “have a colour as if they were fit to be eaten, but if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes” (Reider).

And a pillar of salt standing as a monument to an unbelieving soul: This refers to the story of Lot’s wife. For pillar of salt, A Handbook on Genesis by Reyburn and Fry recommends “salt statue” or “stone of salt” as a possible alternative. Translators should check their translation at Gen 19.26 for this expression. In this line soul means “person.” The whole line may be rendered “and a salt statue stands there witnessing to a person who refused to believe [what God had said].”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Wisdom of Solomon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2004. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.