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.

steadfast love

The Hebrew that is translated as “steadfast love,” “lovingkindness” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “love of enduring.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Bura-Pabir it is translated as hyirkur na a palidzi wa or “love which cannot be-changed” and in the Hausa Common Language Ajami Bible as kaunarsa marar canjawa or “his love without changing.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Pijin tinghevi long or “think heavy about” is used. “The Pijin expression ‘think heavy about’ is very much within the domain of committed relationships. The relationship between father and child, husband and wife, God and His people. There is a very strong element of ‘loyalty’ in this expression.” (Source: Bob Carter)

See also mercy and pain-love.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 20:6

This is another observation about human nature, in this case pointing out the contrast between what people claim to be and what they really are, or between words and behavior.

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty”: “Many a man” means “many people” or possibly “Everyone” (Good News Translation). This is a comment on human nature in general, so another possible rendering is “People say. . ..” The sense of “proclaims his own loyalty” is “claim that they can be trusted.” “Loyalty” renders the Hebrew word chesed, which means faithful love in a relationship, so it may point in particular to giving help and sympathy to another person in time of need. In line with this some translations say something like “Many people say that they love their friends.” However, the parallel expression in line 2 does mean “trustworthy,” and it is therefore quite likely that this is the sense intended here in line 1 also. So Contemporary English Version has “There are many who say ‘You can trust me!'”

“But a faithful man who can find?”: This Revised Standard Version rendering is not natural English (and New International Version is the same). The literal Hebrew is better expressed in New Jerusalem Bible, “but who can find someone really to be trusted?” The Hebrew form is a rhetorical question that actually has the meaning that it is impossible to find any person who is really trustworthy. English versions generally render this as a question, but it is also possible to express the meaning as a statement; for example, “But there are very few who are faithful friends” or “But if you look for this kind of person, you can’t find one.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .