peace (inner peace)

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The Hebrew and Greek that is translated into English as “peace” (or “at ease”) is (back-) translated with a variety of idioms and phrases:

In American Sign Language it is signed with a compound sign consisting of “become” and “silent.” (Source: Yates 2011, p. 52)


“Peace” in American Sign Language (source )

See also peace (absence of strife) and this devotion on YouVersion .

mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love.

complete verse (Jude 1:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of Jude 1:2:

  • Uma: “I hope/trust that God gives you more-and-more blessing, goodness of life and his love.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I ask God that his mercy and his love to you may increase and that he may cause it to be more peaceful in your livers.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “May God show you mercy, make you peaceful, and show you kindness.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “May you increasingly experience the grace/mercy/favor, peace, and love that comes-from God.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I pray that hopefully very plentiful there with you is the pitying help and valuing by God, and peace/protection of mind/inner-being which he gives.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I want that God will be more merciful to you and that he will give you more peace of heart, and that he will love you more.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Jude 1:2

After the brief description of his readers, Jude now conveys his greetings to them. The greeting formula that he uses varies somewhat from the traditional greeting in the New Testament; instead of the usual three elements of grace, mercy, and peace, Jude has mercy, peace, and love. Mercy is God’s compassion and kindness, of which his saving action through Jesus Christ is the best example. Peace is a popular word of greeting among Jews and denotes the total well-being that results from a close relationship with God. In many languages peace will be rendered idiomatically; for example, “have coolness and peacefulness.” Love may be interpreted as God’s love for all people which is made known through Jesus Christ, or as the love and concern of Christians for one another. It is quite tempting to take these terms in their fullest theological meaning; it must be remembered, however, that they are used here as elements of a greeting formula and must be translated to fit their function within such a formula.

Be multiplied to you is similar to the expression found in 1 Peter 1.2 and is a distinctive feature of Jewish prayers (compare Dan 4.1; 6.25). It conveys the hope that mercy, peace, and love will be bestowed to them continually and in abundance. (Note Phillips “May you ever experience more and more of mercy, peace and love!”)

Alternative translation models for this verse are as follows:

• May you ever experience more and more mercy, peace, and love from God.

Or:

• I pray that God will continue to be good to you, so that your well-being will increase, and that your love for one another will continue to grow.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Letter from Jude. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .