Every Language: Listening To The Multilingual GodSample

Advocate, Comforter, Helper

When our English Bibles cannot agree on one translation for a single Greek or Hebrew word, we can rightly assume that this is a difficult-to-translate word. "Comforter," "Advocate," "Counselor" or "Helper" in English all refer to the same promise of Jesus in the fourteenth chapter of John.

The famed Bible translation consultant Eugene Nida wrote that "perhaps no word in all the New Testament is so hard to translate adequately as the word 'Comforter.' The Greek word, generally transliterated as Paraclete, is exceedingly rich in its wealth of meaning, for it implies not only 'to comfort' but also 'to admonish,' 'to exhort,' 'to encourage,' and 'to help.' To put all these meanings into one native expression is indeed difficult, and yet [one] must try to find a term or phrase which will give the people an adequate picture of the unique ministry of the Holy Spirit."

Bible translation history provides many beautiful and thought-provoking translations, including "the one who goes alongside continuously" (Tausug / Philippines), "He who gives warmth in our soul" (Eastern Highland Otomi / Mexico), "He who ties up the thoughts" (Baoulé / Ivory Coast), and "mediator who speaks on our behalf." 

Eugene points to one especially meaningful story from the translation into Kare, a language of the Central African Republic. Estella Myers, a missionary working among the Kare people, had tried so hard to explain to native helpers the meaning of the "Comforter." She had described in detail the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit as it encourages, exhorts, admonishes, protects, comforts, and guides the Christian. Finally, the Kare translators exclaimed, "Oh, if someone would do all of that for us, we would say, 'He's the one who falls down beside us.'" 

Estella was dismayed—this seemed like a completely inadequate phrase to describe the work of the Holy Spirit. But the translators insisted on explaining the unique way they used this term.

When porters carried heavy loads on their heads for long journeys, often for as long as two or three months, they sometimes contracted malaria or dysentery, gradually becoming weaker and weaker. Finally in complete exhaustion they collapsed along the trail, knowing that if they didn't get to safety in the next village, they would be killed and eaten by wild animals during the night. However, if someone passing along the trail saw them lying there and took pity on them, stooping down to pick them up and helping them to reach the safety and protection of the next village, they described that person as "the one who falls down beside us." The Kare translators insisted that this was the appropriate translation for "Comforter," as the One who sustains, protects, and keeps the children of God on their journey toward their heavenly home.

When has the Holy Spirit fallen down beside you to pick you up and help you to reach safety? Is that something you need today? Ask the Comforter for "warmth in your soul" for this hour.