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 9:15

For a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind: These lines express the idea, common in Greek philosophy, that the immortal soul is imprisoned inside the mortal body both are composed of material substance, but the soul is of much lighter stuff, and when the mortal body dies, the soul is released, and like a cork in water, floats upward. This earthy tent refers to the perishable body (or, “body that some day will die”). Thoughtful, as the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, can be interpreted as “anxious, full of care.” For the last clause Revised English Bible has “and its frame of clay burdens the mind already so full of care.” We prefer to take it as do Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, however, since otherwise it breaks the context. The author is saying that we cannot learn about God’s plans, because no matter how active and inquisitive our minds are, they are still burdened down by the body.

One possible approach for this verse is:

• Our mortal bodies are temporary structures made of earth and lie heavy [or, are a burden] on our souls; they put limits on what our minds are able to discover.

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.