There’s a new app for iOS called “Biblical Audio Pronunciations” (also available in “Lite” version) which aims to offer “correct” pronunciation of biblical terms. The web page claims: We carefully researched and recorded the pronunciations of important terms, names, and places, to help you embrace the Word of God more easily. Does it live up…
Category: translation
yabt (yet another bible translation): the common english bible
The Common English Bible has been completed, the result of an impressive array of scholars, with admirable goals. A page comparing it with the NRSV and NIV is available here. Some brief and very initial observations based primarily on a few passages I like to check follows.
“is a word-for-word translation unbiblical?” — part 2
Another illuminating example is Deut 6:5 — the greatest commandment. Again there’s little substantial difference evident between the MT and the DSS: ואהבת את יהוה אלהיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאדך These reflect a tripartite division of “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (NASB). The LXX follows…
“is a word-for-word translation unbiblical?” — part 1
OK, that’s just a catchy title for this post, but let me explain the issue I want to highlight. There are great debates about which translation methodology is best all over the web (including on this very blog, see here and here). Is a literal “formal equivalent” translation better, or is a “dynamic equivalent” translation…
four centuries of the king james version: the funny bits
Unless you’ve been hiding away you’re probably aware that the King James Version of the Bible is now 400 years old. People everywhere are making comment on this fact and offering observations and well-considered thoughts. In many respects it is remarkable how well the translation has stood the test of time, but it does nonetheless…
reviewing cbmw’s review of the 2011 niv
CBMW (an organisation which stridently opposed the TNIV) has posted a preliminary evaluation of the 2011 NIV. Unsurprisingly they conclude that “we still cannot commend the new NIV(2011) for most of the same reasons we could not commend the TNIV.” However, I think there are a number of problems with their analysis which I’d like…
niv 2011/tniv and ecclesiastes 11:1–2
John Hobbins raised the 2011 NIV’s rendering of Eccl 11:1–2 (although it really just retains the TNIV’s translation and so isn’t a new feature of this translation). The 2011 NIV/TNIV render these verses as follows: Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in…
first impressions of the 2011 niv
The new revision of the NIV translation is now available online at Bible Gateway, and this has prompted some discussion. Facilitating discussion are a couple of sites listing differences between the various revisions of the NIV. For first impressions it is most obvious to begin with the beginning — Genesis 1. The 2011 NIV follows…
perspectives in translation
There’s an interesting series beginning over at BibleGateway.com presenting various views on accuracy in Bible translation (actually, none of the posts seems to present much that is peculiar to the translation of the Bible). It will be interesting to see where things progress!
a foreignising translation of genesis 1: part IV
Well, at last it is time to finish the remainder of Genesis 1. I’m sure there remains much room for improvement, so I’m still open to any and all suggestions. I’m also aware that there are parts of the text which remain susceptible to inappropriate domestication, so this is in no way intended to be…