Category Archives: literary bible

The double-dyed villains of the Apocrypha

In a previous post, I noted the use of “triple-dyed villain” (NEB) and “double-dyed villain” (REB) to describe the character of Haman in the Greek version of the book of Esther: We find, however, that the Jews whom this double-dyed villain had consigned to extinction are no evildoers; on the contrary, they order their lives by [...]
Also posted in bible translation, idioms | 2 Comments

On the watch for wordplay in the Bible

I want to take a closer look at a couple of puns in the OT and Apocrypha that were mentioned in the comments to my post on the “smooth” punning in Genesis 3. But first, be sure to check out Mike Sangrey’s observations on what smooth might really mean, posted here and here. Ray McCalla noted [...]
Also posted in bible translation | 5 Comments

The literary Bible: Feeding the flames of hell

This is a post in a continuing translation comparison series. Focused on “the literary Bible”, my intent is look at passages or phrases where translations that have been especially noted for their literary translation qualities seem to capture the meaning of the text with an extra dash of written flavor, at least in comparison with [...]
Also posted in bible translation, church, creation, eschatology, scripture study | 15 Comments

The literary Bible: Deeds of doom!

This is the third post in a translation comparison series. Focused on “the literary Bible”, my intent is look at passages or phrases where translations that have been especially noted for their literary translation qualities seem to capture the meaning of the text with an extra dash of written flavor, at least in comparison with [...]
Also posted in bible translation | 10 Comments

Love and lust: Seerveld and the Song of Songs

The Greatest Song, in Critique of Solomon Translated and arranged for oratorio performance by Calvin Seerveld Published by Toronto Tuppence Press (1988, paperback) ISBN 0919071023 * * * * * I have mentioned Calvin Seerveld’s translation and study of The Song of Songs several times on this blog, as well as in the comments on many others. I was [...]
Also posted in Uncategorized, bible translation, books | 11 Comments