patience, patient

The Greek terms that are translated as “patient” or “patience” are translated in a variety of ways.

Eugene Nida (1952, p. 130) gives some examples:

“Peace is the quality of the soul; patience is the behavior of the soul. The Aymara of Bolivia have described patience well by the phrase ‘a waiting heart.’

“The Ngäbere of Panama describe patience in more vivid terms. They say that it is ‘chasing down your temper.’ The impatient person lets his temper run away with him. Patience requires one to “chase down his temper” and get it under control [see also Mairasi down below].

“The Yucateco describe patience as ‘strength not to fall.’ This seems to include almost more than patience, but it is important to note that this Yucateco translation recognizes that impatience means ‘falling.’ For some of us, who tend to take a certain secret pride in our impatience—describing it as energetic drive—it might be well to recognize that impatience is failure, while patience is strength.

“The San Blas Kuna in Panama use a rather strange phrase to depict patience. They say ‘not caring what happens.’ But this is not meant as condoning foolhardy indifference to life and danger. It reflects a kind of reckless confidence in God, a confidence not bred of desperation but of utter reliance. The patient person is not concerned about what happens; he is willing to wait in confidence.”

In Mairasi, the phrase that is employed is “stop (our) anger” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Suki “slow careful thinking way” is used (source L. and E. Twyman in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 91ff. )

In Kwang an expression is used that directly translates as “carry one’s head.” (Source: Mark Vanderkooi right here)

In Q’anjob’al it is translated with the phrase “large stomach” (source: Newberry and Kittie Cox in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ).

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

complete verse (Matthew 18:29)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 18:29:

  • Uma: “‘His companion knelt down asking for mercy/pity, he said: ‘Please be patient, friend, I really will pay my debt!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Immediately this one servant stood on his knees begging him, he said, ‘Give me some time first. I will really pay you.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And his fellow servant knelt down in front of him, begging saying, ‘Give me more time; allow me to look for that which I will pay you.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘Then that companion of his knelt and pled-for-mercy saying, ‘Please have-mercy! Be-patient still longer with me so that I will pay it all.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That one being caused by him to pay bowed down and begged for mercy. He said, ‘Hopefully just give me time to earn/find-money, and it’s certain that I will pay my debt to you.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “This man who owed a little bit of money then knelt before him to whom he owed the money and asked the favor and said: ‘Wait a bit while I find the money to pay you,’ he said.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 18:29

Fell down means to fall face downward to the ground (see verse 26). It is obvious that the falling is intentional, and so one must guard against a verb which implies tripping or unintentional falling. Although the word is not the same as that used in verse 26, the meaning is close enough that translators can use a similar expression; for example, “knelt down to beg him.” The urgency of the fellow servant’s plea is conveyed by Barclay with “threw himself at his feet.”

Have patience translates the same verb used in verse 26. Jerusalem Bible translates “Give me time.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .