Brokenhearted in Isaiah 61:1 – a Brief Note

I was reading this for my morning reading, and I noticed the phrase “nishb^erey lev” which is nearly universally translated as “brokenhearted” or something very close to that in English translations. This is an extremely familiar passage, and it is quite possible that translators are wary of moving from the familiar phraseology.

But as I read it in Hebrew, I had to note that I would not get the same meaning from the Hebrew text as I do from the English “brokenhearted.” Merriam-Webster’s 10th (in my Logos software) gives “overcome by grief or despair” as its definition. Thus the terms overlap, I would think but the semantic range differs substantially. I believe English readers will hear more “grief” than “despair.”

HALOT suggests “oppressed or humbled” for this particular instance, again overlapping the semantic range of despair, though much less so of “grief.” Since the heart is not the seat of the emotions, but rather of the will and to some extent the mind in Hebrew thought, perhaps we would do better to find an alternative to “brokenhearted” to translate this phrase. The current translation leaves one with the impression that one has a clear understanding, but that understanding may well be skewed.

Note: One useful online resource on idioms is Wayne Leman’s Evaluating Translation of Old Testament Idioms available in PDF or Microsoft Excel format. It’s taken from his Studies evaluating English Bible Versions page. He doesn’t have this one in there, but I will surely be e-mailing him with it.