The Bible Translator: Volume 25, Issue 4

A preliminary study of the implications on translation of understanding the kingdom as the reign of God. At least 3 ways are discussed in which the kingdom idea is used: (1) the focus is on the initial activity of God in inaugurating his rule; (2) the focus is on the acceptance of God’s rule in one’s life; (3) the focus is on the consummation of God’s activity in salvation. A number of passages are then analyzed in which these three ideas are translated. View Less

A suggestion for translating 4 words for locust as indications of 4 stages in the development of the locust, with a chart showing the OT passages which include the words and how the words are translated in 5 English versions. View Less

Translators in East Central Africa face a number of translation problems: (1) forced to use English translations as their textual base; (2) tendency to translate literally; (3) their constituency is suspicious of new translations. The English translation the translators use is crucial, and a case is made why the RSV is helpful. The reasons are that the church people have been raised on an AV-RSV tradition and translators have had extensive training in the use of form-meaning distinctions. At the same time the TEV is frequently more intelligible, and yet its figures depart from the original and are not reliable. For similar reasons the NEB and the Living Bible are not suitable, for the figures and the emotional connotations are not directly translatable. View Less

The problem of an English text to use as a translation base is first seen as a function of the kind of translator. A good translator has natural translation abilities and skill and experience, but he also has available a good translation in a second language. English translations that are not literal, NEB, JB, Phillips are understandable and useful, but Greek style is different from English style and a translator must be familiar with Greek and Hebrew. The TEV has been widely used as a translation base, but one must be familiar with the problems that poses and finally have a translation in the new language which is neither Greek nor English. View Less

A study of the verb frequently translated “bring” in 1 Thess. 4:14b in which the problems of that translation are faced. “Bring” implies that God, Jesus and Christians who have died are coming together from heaven to earth. Since that movement is not the correct picture, a discussion of the translation of the verb ago follows, and a comparison is made with other passages in which the same Greek word is used. View Less

Four specific problems are discussed which have broad interest for Bible translators: (1) how they translated difficult technical terms such as “the Son of Man” and “the kingdom of God”; (2) the values of restructuring sentences such as at 4:5–9 and 12:20–22; (3) how they translated difficult and ambiguous phrases, such as “living water” and “in my name”; and (4) instances where they departed from traditional punctuation of passages such as at 9:3,4. View Less

Three terms used in the Venda Bible are discussed in light of the Biblical background of the idea, the possible Venda terms and the best choice is made. The words are, the word for “an offering,” tshidzimu; the word for “to pray,” u rerela and u rerelela; and the word for “blessing,” u fhatitschedza. View Less

A twice yearly publication of 50–60 pages that was first published in 1970 is discussed. The purpose of the periodical as a forum for exchange of ideas on translation problems. View Less