Because I think this is one of the most important concepts to have established in our brains as we approach this deep topic, I would like to quote one of my teachers.
Languages are not codes. There is not a one-to-one correspondence between languages, and this applies especially to vocabulary. Rarely if ever can you find one word in one language that corresponds exactly to another word in another language, especially in its semantic range.
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Stated another way, a literal translation should refer to the meaning of the original language. Meaning, not form. A literal translation is only about what the author’s intent was; it is not necessarily the best translation if it is a strictly word-for-word translation.
This does not mean that a dynamic equivalent is the preferred type of translation either. Really, the problem with all translations is that there is always an element of interpretation going on. Since there is no way to translate from one language to another and get the same meaning, there is interpretation. There is decision about the best way to convey the meaning of the original. Additionally, since there is no way to translate from one culture or era of time to another, there is also interpretation. Going from Jesus’ time to the 21st century is going to have problems due to cultural differences. All kinds of need for interpretation.
Within the chapter of Mounce’s book, he has many examples of different ways translations have dealt with difficult-to-translate words as well as idioms. I could make a sizable Basics Bite simply sharing a number of those. However, I think what we will do is keep studying and when a situation in the text presents itself, we will refer back to this Basics Bite and build on what we know.
Which means, this Basics Bite may not make a lot of sense right now, but as we adventure through scripture, we will see live examples of the challenges the translators have since language is not a code.
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- Mounce, W. D. (2006). Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. xiv). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.