Comments on: Textual emendation: transposing verses

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:17:13 +0000

El, nothing on the NEB transposition either, except commenting on its rendering of “crocodile” and “whale.”

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:48:06 +0000

@TC: you’d have to go back further – the same transposition in Job is in the NEB, which published the OT in 1970. But again, these are the only two translations that I’ve seen make such radical suggestions with respect to verse transposition, though the REB has reversed a number of the more adventuresome readings in the NEB.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:29:48 +0000

@Mike: What examples can you provide of this “functional reorganization”? 1. Romans 8:5-6 ... the NEB/REB rearranges the text as follows:

5-6 Those who live on the level of the old nature have their outlook formed by it, and that spells death; but those who live on the level of the spirit have the spiritual outlook, and that is life and peace.

Compare that to the HCSB:

5 For those who lives are according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those whose lives are according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.

2. From 2 Corinthians 1:13-14, the NEB/REB:

13-14 There is nothing in our letters to you but what you can read and understand. You do understand us in some measure, but I hope you will come to understand fully that you have as much reason to be proud of us, as we of you, on the day of our Lord Jesus.

Again, compare the HCSB:

13 Now we are writing you nothing other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely -- 14 as you have partially understood us -- that we are your reason for pride, as you are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

3. Not from the writings of Paul, but the NEB/REB rearranged John 4:6b-8 to read as follows:

6b It was about noon, and Jesus, tired after his journey, was sitting by the well. 8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 7 Meanwhile a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.' 9 The woman said [...]

In all of these examples, the meaning or accuracy of the passage doesn't change, but narratively they read better (in my opinion). The question is, can we accept these types of minor adjustments without squawking about changing the Word of God?

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:06:41 +0000

John Hartley’s commentary (1988) predates the REB, and there’s no discussion on the issue.

By: Mike Beidler

Mike Beidler — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:45:24 +0000

the translators’ functional reorganization of some of Paul’s thoughts in his letters clarified the text unlike any other translation I had been reading.

El Shaddai,

What examples can you provide of this “functional reorganization”? You have me intrigued here …

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:33:18 +0000

URL: http://ntwrong.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/prosperity-gospel-gods-breasts/

Hmmm... The "shad" etymology argument may be valid, but that's an interesting application of it...

By: David Ker

David Ker — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:42:30 +0000

BTW, did you catch NT Wrong on “El Shaddai.” That guy is a wild man…

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:50:53 +0000

Yes, quite interesting. I’ll have to consult Hartley’s commentary on Job in the NICOT series and see what he says.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:22:49 +0000

I get words and phrases, but I wonder if the objection is as easily dismissed when blocks of verses are moved around. For example, in Job 41, the REB transposes 41:1-6 to follow 39:30, minimizing the description of Leviathan as hippo/whale in favor of an extended presentation of Behemoth, including the now uninterrupted 40:15-24 and 41:7-34.

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:12:03 +0000

El, every translation does a word here or there, or even a phrase or two (2 Tim 4:1), so I don’t see it as a big deal to arrive a clarity in reading, if a committee so deemed. That’s my take.