der Jubel – joy, jubilation, rejoicing
IPA: [ˈjuːbl̩]
Etymology: From Middle High German jūbel, formed by the verb jūbilieren[1]
Offenbarung großer Freude durch entsprechendes Verhalten in Gestik, Mimik, Stimme, Sprache.[1]
The revelation of great joy through appropriate behaviour in gestures, facial expressions, voice, and language.
Psalm 30,5 Denn ein Augenblick ist in seinem Zorn, ein Leben in seiner Gunst; am Abend kehrt Weinen ein, und am Morgen ist Jubel da.
Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Even before I looked up the word, Jubel made me think of jubilation and jubilee.
In fact, as I later found out, the usual dictionaries that I refer to doesn’t seem to have “joy” as one of the meanings of this word. It is usually Freude that is used as the translation of “joy”.
I think that the word Jubel used in the ELB translation seems to capture the idea of the kind of abiding happiness that is what joy really is when it is talked about in the Bible.
The meaning of “joy” seems to have lost some of its power, at least in my mind, in terms of being able to convey the full force of the feeling. Jubilation would really be a better word for it, even in English.
The definition of Jubel above even says that it is “great joy” (großer Freude).
When I picked this verse, I remember that it was some weeks ago, when I was definitely in a much better frame of mind. This week hasn’t been the best at work, and I’ve felt that it wasn’t the best. But when I read this, I think that it’s a great encouragement.
What I got out of the second half of the verse is that there are times of happiness and then there are times of sorrow, but the sadness usually doesn’t last long, because joy will come.
The first part is also important, because it tells us something about God.
He is slow to anger, as alluded to in other parts of the Bible, such as in Psalm 108:8:
Psalms 108:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psalm 108,8 Barmherzig und gnädig ist der Herr, geduldig und von großer Güte.
(The German translation uses geduldig, which is not only “patient”, but also means “forbearing”.)
He is quick to forgive us if we repent. But that doesn’t mean that because we cannot directly see anything happening when we do wrong, and that there continues to be evil in the world, that He isn’t going to carry out judgment.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2. Petrus 3,9 Der Herr verzieht nicht die Verheißung, wie es etliche für einen Verzug achten, sondern er ist langmütig gegen euch, da er nicht will, daß irgend welche verloren gehen, sondern daß alle zur Buße kommen.
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