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.

harden

The Greek that is translated as “to harden” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “to become stubborn.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also harden heart and hardness of heart..

complete verse (Romans 9:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 9:18:

  • Uma: “So, God shows his love to one person, and he hardens the heart of another. He does this according to his desire.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This we (dual) can see that God pities everyone he wants to be pitied. And from his will/wish also he abandons people to be hard headed (stubborn, rebellious).” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And we can know from that that as for God, He is the one who controls who he has mercy for, according to what He wants to do for anyone. And He is also the one who controls who He will permit not to be subject to Him according to what He wants for anybody.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So that’s how we know that God shows-mercy to whom he wants to show-mercy and he hardens the minds of the people whom he wants to harden.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Thus it is apparent here that concerning God, whoever he determines to pity, he pities. But God determines to give the road to whatever person he wants to harden his heart.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Romans 9:18

This verse is similar to verse 16 in that it draws a conclusion on the basis of the previous scripture quotation, so then.

Makes stubborn is literally “harden.” The Revised Standard Version and Jerusalem Bible render this with the sense of “to harden (someone’s) heart.”

As in the case of verse 15, the clauses whom he wishes may be translated as conditional since in a sense these clauses are conditional relatives—for example, “whomever he wishes.” Therefore, one may translate as “if God wishes to show mercy on someone, he does so, and if he wishes to make someone stubborn, he does that.”

Normally it is wise to avoid the idiom “to harden the heart.” Even in European languages in which this phrase has been translated literally, the correct meaning of the Semitic idiom (which is basically “to make stubborn or obstinate”) has not been accurately represented. Furthermore, in some languages “to harden the heart” would mean “to make a person brave,” and this is obviously wrong.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .