The Bible Translator: Volume 65, Issue 2

This article argues that it is wrong to translate πειρασμός with two different meanings, first as “trials” in James 1.2 and 12 and then as “temptations” in 1.13. Rather, πειρασμός is best translated as “temptation” in each verse. The author first examines the genre of James, then looks at both the immediate context and the broader context of the epistle. He concludes that, since James focuses on temptation and sin throughout, the best translation for the term in 1.2 and 12 is “temptations.” View Less

Many English translations follow Blass and Debrunner, taking ἂν ἤγεσθε ἀπαγόμενοι (1 Cor 12.2) in an iterative sense: “You know that, when you were pagans, you were (led astray) to mute idols, as you used to be led astray,” which makes little sense. In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, a past indicative verb is frequently used with the particle ἄν in a non-conditional clause, to indicate an unreal (contra-factual) sense in the past or the present. It makes better sense to translate ἂν ἤγεσθε ἀπαγόμενοι in an unreal (contra-factual) sense in the present—“but you are not led astray now!” View Less

In the book of Ezra, the scribe is depicted as lamenting the news that the “holy seed” of Israel has “mixed itself with the peoples of the lands” through marriage. Such a mixing with outsiders is, apparently, to be avoided. But by the time of the LXX translation, Ezra laments that the “holy seed” has “disappeared into the peoples of the land.” This study explores the possible reasons for this change between the Hebrew and Greek texts, and proposes that an intentional change by the Greek translator is likely in order to address the cultural situation of his audience. View Less

This contribution re-evaluates ἀντιτασσόμενος ἀντιτάξομαι– נשׂא אשׂא in LXX and MT Hos 1.6. While commentators have tried to clarify the link between the Greek and Hebrew readings by referring to a different Hebrew Vorlage, BHQ labels the reading as a “lexical error” for which the LXX translator should be held responsible. Neither of these explanations, however, accounts for the possibility that the LXX rendering could have been caused by the translator’s exegesis. This article characterizes the reading as a contextually appropriate translation and thereby acknowledges the exegetical work of the Greek translator. View Less

This article seeks to clarify the interpretation and translation of several verbal forms in Hag 1.8-9. It argues that וּבְנוּ in v. 8a is an indirect volitive expressing purpose. While v. 9a’s פנה is best understood as past-referring, it argues that the following והבאתם הבית has an imperatival or injunctive force urging the people to bring what little they have to offer to the temple. Finally, it is argued that ונפחתי בו in v. 9b is not only future-referring but is also a positive expression of acceptance, referring to the Lord’s “blowing” upon the fires of the temple altar. View Less

In the Hebrew Bible, Yahweh is often depicted as a divine warrior, executing vengeance against his enemies. Some of these texts employ the image of Yahweh as a dragon-like creature who pours forth smoke from his nostrils and fire from his mouth. This article surveys the background of this metaphor by describing deities and monsters that breathe fire in the literature of ancient Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, as well as the dragonlike Leviathan in Job (41.10-13 [Eng. 18-21]). Against this background, the article examines the two texts that most clearly exhibit the metaphor (2 Sam 22.9 // Ps 18.9 [Eng. 8]; Isa 30.27-33) and considers its implications for the translation of ’ap in these and other passages (Isa 42.25; Deut 32.22; Num 11.1). Although the LXX and modern translations uniformly render ’ap as “anger” in most of these passages, this article argues that it is more consonant with the dragon metaphor to translate the term as “nose” or “nostrils” (i.e., “the burning of his nostrils”). View Less

Translating the word YHWH, the name of God in the Hebrew Bible, is a complex matter involving theological, linguistic, and cultural issues. This article considers six possible broad translation options for this name, and summarises case studies of thirty-one Papua New Guinean Old Testament translation projects, exploring and classifying the choices they have made and the issues that guided those choices. It ends by offering some of the advantages and disadvantages of the different possible translation options, as an aid to other translators working on Old Testament translation. View Less

The Tinggian language spoken in the province of Abra has at least ten dialects. The Philippine Bible Society was requested to assist the community to produce Scriptures in their language. Because Tinggian does not seem to have a standard dialect, the speakers of each of the ten dialects wanted a translation in their own dialect. It was explained that this was not economically viable. During the workshop to train translators, the people themselves volunteered the information that Inlaud and Binungan could be a good choice of dialects to be used to translate the Gospel of Mark, as a test project. Inlaud is spoken in eight lowland towns while Binungan is spoken in two upland towns. In events when the community naturally breaks out into a chant, Inlaud is always the dialect used. During the workshop, three translators representing Inlaud and Binungan were chosen. After translating Mark 1–4, the translation was tested by having speakers from two other dialects read the draft. It was understood and appreciated by the speakers from Adasen and Maeng dialects. View Less

The fifth edition of The Greek New Testament is intended to enable its readers to read, understand, and translate the New Testament in its original language in as competent and skilled a manner as possible. To meet this aim the edition was revised in two ways. First, several improvements have been introduced that concern the entire New Testament. Second, in the Catholic Epistles, the edition has been made consistent with the Editio Critica Maior of the Greek New Testament, including textual changes in the base text. View Less