Ps. 8:5 -- Translation or interpretation?
Drew of Truth and Repose blog has discussed whether different translations of Hebrew elohim of Ps. 8:5 are closer to "translation" or "interpretation".
I vote with the ESV on this one. I consider that its translation of elohim in Ps. 8:5 as "heavenly beings" is more accurate than the KJV translation "angels", in spite of the fact that the quoted passage in ESV Heb. 2:9 translates "angels" (from the LXX Greek angelos). ESV translation of elohim and angelos in both verses is accurate. Kudos to the ESV team for not trying to harmonize the two verses, even though one is a quote of the other. May the tribe of those increase who do not harmonize Old Testament translations to New Testament quotes of those passages! Accuracy calls for each passage to be translated on its own terms, within its original context. Application allows for footnotes or commentaries to explain various interpretations of what the translation means.
HT: ESV Bible blog
Categories: translation, Bible translation, interpretation, ESV
I vote with the ESV on this one. I consider that its translation of elohim in Ps. 8:5 as "heavenly beings" is more accurate than the KJV translation "angels", in spite of the fact that the quoted passage in ESV Heb. 2:9 translates "angels" (from the LXX Greek angelos). ESV translation of elohim and angelos in both verses is accurate. Kudos to the ESV team for not trying to harmonize the two verses, even though one is a quote of the other. May the tribe of those increase who do not harmonize Old Testament translations to New Testament quotes of those passages! Accuracy calls for each passage to be translated on its own terms, within its original context. Application allows for footnotes or commentaries to explain various interpretations of what the translation means.
HT: ESV Bible blog
Categories: translation, Bible translation, interpretation, ESV
posted by Wayne Leman at 9:00 AM
4 Comments:
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The TNIV also has heavenly beings here.
But isn't ESV:s translation of Jes 7:14 an example of harmonizing the old testament to the new testaments translation of the passage? ESV have "virgin" instead of "young woman" like NRV and for example the newest swedish and dutch translations.
I have wondered about the popularity of the LXX in the early church. No problem with that in itself. But it certainly did influence many of the NT citations of OT passages.
A side note here. But I'm not convinced that the apocryphal books, that were a part of the LXX should be excluded from our Bibles. Relatively minor since this affects no NT books, and only books of the intertestamental era.
I'm not sure. But wish the TNIV would make an edition that would include the apocryphal books. (The NLT has made a catholic edition that includes those books, though I believe you have to go to Catholic stores/sources to get it.
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