The Bible Translator: Volume 27, Issue 2

Discusses translating figures of speech in terms of 4 types of adjustments and provides examples of translating various figures of speech. The types of adjustment are: (1) retain the biblical figure; (2) fill in a part of the figure missing in the Bible; (3) replace the biblical figures with an equivalent figure from the language he is working with; and (4) put the figure into plain words. View Less

An attempt to show that 14, not 13, names are in the third group of names in Matt. 1:1–18. In answering why 14 names are in the list, suggests: no external evidence for the omission of any name; Matthew intended 14 names and could count; the number 14 is based upon the Hebrew form of the name David; or perhaps the number is derived from the Jewish sacred number, 2 x 7 = 14. View Less

An attempt to provide some examples of translation using the “closest natural equivalent.” Gives examples of social equivalents and cultural equivalents and defines two principles: (1) generally a translator should follow the majority view among scholars and major translations; and (2) the customs of one’s own people should be heard. View Less

The Hebrew word translated “soul” (nephesh) appears more than 750 times in the OT. Only in a few of those incidents does the word mean “soul.” More frequently it means such things as “throat,” “neck,” “desire,” “inner life,” “life,” “person,” and it is also used as a pronoun. Some illustrations of the different uses of the word are provided as a guide to translation, indicating the broad range of meaning in a word. View Less

In the OT there are 214 occurrences of words formed from the simple Hebrew word yasar, which is usually said to mean “right.” The main concern of the article is with the meaning of those yasar words with some religious or ethical significance. Concludes that many of the uses of yasar are related to the fact of the covenant. View Less

All languages have certain features which natives consider to be beautiful. Translators must look to their languages to determine how they can produce translations which will speak to the hearts of their own people. Draws examples from the book of Proverbs. View Less

Six basic passages which contain figurative expressions that can cause translation problems are discovered in the book of Matthew and the Bantu languages of East Africa are particularly referred to. View Less

There are two differences in setting out poetry from setting out other texts: (1) the text is divided into short sections and these poetry lines are arranged in an orderly way; or (2) the sections are indented some distance from the regular margin. Discusses various ways to set poetry lines and to indent. View Less

The translator must look to the context and the meaning of a passage to determine whether the hearer or the writer is included when forms of the first person pronoun are used. In many cases the choice is easy, but discusses a number of passages where the answer is by no means clear. View Less

The meaning of and connection of Ecc. 5:9 with the context is problematic. Offers a solution which unites the meaning of the two verses. Verse 9 is translated: “(And they will tell you that) all of this means progress for the country, (and that) the king is the servant of the land!" View Less

Elucidates the meaning and implications of the Greek term houtos (“so”). It stresses the quality rather than the quantity of the love. View Less

In the Bible many familiar verses contain a question which expects a negative answer. What makes them difficult to understand as such is that they often use “Who?”, “Which?”, or “What?”, so that the reader may think there is an actual answer he has not thought of. Such questions may need to be put into a form which can be answered by “Yes” or “No”, to make them easier to understand in the way they are intended. View Less

Illustrates how one must understand a text before he can translate it. Deut. 7:10 is used for the illustration. Concludes by translating the important phrase as “But he will not hesitate for a moment to punish and destroy those who hate him." View Less

Discusses the phrase “make holy” as it appears in Deut. 22:9. The word implies dedication and separation from common use so that the RSV translates “lest the whole field be forfeited to the sanctuary." View Less