Have you ever compared any of the various English translations of the Bible to one another? Although they are all nearly the same, you should begin to notice nuances within—and at some points drastic differences between—many of the respective English versions we read today. These differences predominantly do not reflect different versions of the source text variants that the translators used to publish their versions; instead, these differences are the inevitable result of the translational process. Let me explain this in two easy points!
1) When we read our English Bibles we are also reading the interpretative decisions that the translators and editors have made which are embedded within their translations, either for good or less desirable. Any translation from a source to a target language will involve some degree of interpretation. The translators must first understand the text in its original language and literary context, and then convey it as accurately as possible in the target language. Since many different groups of translators have worked on translating the Bible independently from one another—even though they were all using the same original texts—nuanced differences in their understanding of said texts are an inevitable result of their final product and their interpretations are inevitably embedded within their translations. Furthermore, when we read the Bible through translation, we are only reading the option that the translators choose where there may be many different interpretations available in the source text.
2) We must all come to grips with the reality that any translation from source to target language of any text (not just biblical) only approximates the original. No two languages are the same—comparatively, they are just different. It is simply an unavoidable linguistic phenomenon. The expression of one language may not have an equivalent in another. In some cases, word-for-word works, while in others it requires additional words to convey the same idea. On the one hand, this could be difficult to swallow for a lot of us; but on the other, this could this could be truly motivating and inspiring—as it was for me!
I am not advocating against any particular translation or soapboxing regarding their innate weaknesses. English Bibles have a crucial role to play in biblical literacy and communities of faith. All I’m saying is there is so much more to be explored! Those who acquire the skills needed to read the bible in its original languages will have the highest vantage point for understanding its intended meaning. By learning to read and understand the Bible in its original form, we can read the texts for ourselves and bypass the translators’ interpretation that inevitably crept in and became embedded within English translations.
I cannot overstate the significance of learning Biblical Hebrew. It is the key to unlocking the treasures of the Hebrew Bible in its most authentic form. Understanding the language in which the Hebrew Bible was originally written bridges the gap between the variety of interpretations and the original words of the sacred Scriptures. Building proficiency in the language empowers you to interpret and interact with the Scriptures with better precision and efficiency, reducing the innate risk of misinterpretation. As a result, it offers a deeper, richer comprehension of the text, its context, and its nuanced layers.
Thx