wisdom

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is translated as “wisdom” in English is rendered in Amganad Ifugao and Tabasco Chontal as “(big) mind,” in Bulu and Yamba as “heart-thinking,” in Tae’ as “cleverness of heart” (source for this and all above: Reiling / Swellengrebel), in Palauan as “bright spirit (innermost)” (source: Bratcher / Hatton), in Ixcatlán Mazatec as “with your best/biggest thinking” (source: Robert Bascom), in Noongar as dwangka-boola, lit. “ear much” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018 — see also remember), and in Dobel, it is translated with the idiom “their ear holes are long-lasting” (in Acts 6:3) (source: Jock Hughes).

See also wisdom (Proverbs).

Translation commentary on Daniel 5:14

The spirit of the holy gods: while both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have the adjective holy in this verse, the majority of versions omit it. This word is clearly found in verse 11 above, but it is not recommended by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project/Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament that it be repeated here. The king would not necessarily have repeated the words of verse 11 exactly.

Light and understanding and excellent wisdom: this is a repetition of the same three words used in verse 11.

Are found in you: the passive expression will have to be made active in many languages. A possible model is “and I know that you are (or have).”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .