scepter

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “scepter” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “stick of ruling” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin) and in Cherokee as “walking stick of chief” (source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 17).

Translation commentary on Wisdom 7:8

I preferred her to scepters and thrones: On scepters and thrones as symbols of royal authority, see the notes on 6.21. Good News Translation substitutes “crown” for scepters, assuming it will be more readily understood. Good News Translation expresses this line well, but translators could also say “I valued her more highly than…” or “She was more precious to me than….” Or we may get rid of the symbols and say something like “I valued her more highly than power and authority.”

And I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her may be rendered “I even chose her over wealth.”

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.