ב\"ה

English translation: With God's Help/By the Grace of God

13:23 Jul 30, 2018

Hebrew to English translations [PRO]
Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, CVs / Documents issued by a religious college

Hebrew term or phrase: ב\"ה

בס״ד and

I know what these terms mean. Translating them, however, seems weird. On the other hand, these are official documents that will be notarized, and I generally translate all the written text in such documents, including stamps and signatures.

And if yes, how would you translate Basa"d and BH in a neutral way ("Thank God" and "God willing" seem rather preposterous).

Thank you for your suggestions!

Sandra & Kenneth Grossman KudoZ activity Questions: 60 (none open) (6 closed without grading) Answers: 2339 Israel
Local time: 04:52

English translation:With God's Help/By the Grace of God

Explanation:
David's suggestion is taking this to stand for ברוך השם, whereas, if it appears at the top of a certificate, it actually stands for בעזרת השם. The Aramaic equivalent בסיעתא דשמיא, which you have also listed, means the same thing. Christian English documents might use the phrase By the Grace of God, which is not the same thing but is used in the same context.

Selected response from:

Textpertise
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:52

Grading comment

Thanks! Definitely not preposterous!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +2

With God's Help/By the Grace of God

Textpertise

5 +1

Blessed is God

David Greenberg

Perry Zamek

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

ב"ה Blessed is God

Explanation:
It doesn't adhere to normal conversation, but the original doesn't either. (The adjective comes before the noun.)

David Greenberg
Israel
Local time: 04:52
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks!

8 mins confidence:

BH

Explanation:
I don't think these (BH, BSD) need to be expanded, unless the whole document is a religious text (e.g. a Ketubah). Otherwise, translate as "With God's Help" in both instances.

Perry Zamek
Israel
Local time: 04:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks!

14 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

ב"ה

With God's Help/By the Grace of God

Textpertise
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:52
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

Grading comment

Thanks! Definitely not preposterous!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Itzik Greenvald Mivtach

7 mins

-> Thanks

agree

Shalom Bresticker: As you say, other religions might use a similar statement, so it is not preposterpous at all.

46 mins

-> Thanks

agree

Sergio Kot

16 hrs

disagree

David Greenberg: While "ב"ה" can stand for "'בעזרת ה," my experience is that those who choose to use this abbreviation rather than the options "בע"ה" or "בס"ד" intend "'ברוך ה," including at the top of a document.

1 day 16 hrs

-> My answer states that this is the meaning on top of a document. In the mid- or end- sentence it does mean Baruch Hashem. Whether what people think it means is actually what it means is another question entirely. Personally, I use the unambiguous בס"ד

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ב\"ה

English translation: With God's Help/By the Grace of God

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