Idiomatic translations are those that seek to convey the "meaning" of the words
in the Hebrew and Greek scriptures. They are sometimes called meaning based
translations. Notable examples of idiomatic translations are: the Today's English
Version, New International Version, God's Word, New Living Translation,
Today's New International Version, Holman Christian Standard Version,
and the New International Version 2011.
Idiomatic translations, like modified-literal ones, are useful in many ways but
I will only innumerate a few points that represent the whole.
(1) Idiomatic translations are generally easier to read and comprehend than
the modified-literal ones. They use modern speech and tend to avoid the
awkward phrasing that sometimes characterizes the more literal versions.
(2) Idiomatic translations often clarify ancient idioms for modern
readers. For example, the ASV, true to the form of the Hebrew text says
Yahweh gave the children of Israel "cleanness of teeth." (Amos 4:6) The
phrase is an idiom meaning, God has sent famine. The NIV 2011 interprets
it with the phrase "empty stomachs." An example of a N.T. idiom is the phrase
"the bosom of the Father." (Jno. 1:18) ASV. It means the closest intimacy,
fellowship, or relationship. The NIV 2011 explains the idiom to mean "closest
relationship."
(3) Idiomatic translations also serve as reasonably good commentaries
because they emphasize meaning. They sometimes explain words that would
be obscure to modern readers.
(4) They also tend to avoid the use of archaic expressions, phrasing, and
word order that confuses the "average" reader.
(5) They are generally easier to memorize because the translators ask,
"How do we say in English what we see in the Hebrew and Greek texts."
RD
Copyright 2011
in the Hebrew and Greek scriptures. They are sometimes called meaning based
translations. Notable examples of idiomatic translations are: the Today's English
Version, New International Version, God's Word, New Living Translation,
Today's New International Version, Holman Christian Standard Version,
and the New International Version 2011.
Idiomatic translations, like modified-literal ones, are useful in many ways but
I will only innumerate a few points that represent the whole.
(1) Idiomatic translations are generally easier to read and comprehend than
the modified-literal ones. They use modern speech and tend to avoid the
awkward phrasing that sometimes characterizes the more literal versions.
(2) Idiomatic translations often clarify ancient idioms for modern
readers. For example, the ASV, true to the form of the Hebrew text says
Yahweh gave the children of Israel "cleanness of teeth." (Amos 4:6) The
phrase is an idiom meaning, God has sent famine. The NIV 2011 interprets
it with the phrase "empty stomachs." An example of a N.T. idiom is the phrase
"the bosom of the Father." (Jno. 1:18) ASV. It means the closest intimacy,
fellowship, or relationship. The NIV 2011 explains the idiom to mean "closest
relationship."
(3) Idiomatic translations also serve as reasonably good commentaries
because they emphasize meaning. They sometimes explain words that would
be obscure to modern readers.
(4) They also tend to avoid the use of archaic expressions, phrasing, and
word order that confuses the "average" reader.
(5) They are generally easier to memorize because the translators ask,
"How do we say in English what we see in the Hebrew and Greek texts."
RD
Copyright 2011
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