Block, SkipCaptcha, Automoderated users, edit, rollback
5,023
edits
Changes
→Translating ἰδοὺ
In the [[Septuaginta]], ἰδοὺ is the most common translation of the [[Hebrew]] demonstrative particle הנה (transliteration '''hinneh''' or '''hinei'''): it is used over 900 times. In the [[New Testament]], it appears about 200 times, mostly in the [[Gospel]]s of [[Matthew]] and [[Luke]]. As James H. Moulton stated in his inaugural lecture in Manchester in January 1906: ''"We very rarely use the interjection 'Behold' in ordinary speech, and normal late Greek speech did not use it much more than we do. In those parts of the New Testament which come from Aramaic sources, or are written by men (like St. James) who continued to use Aramaic as their ordinary language, we find this 'behold' extremely often.''"<ref>''The Science of Language and the Study of the New Testament'', Manchester, University Press, 1906, p. 16. by ''James Hope Moulton'')</ref>
In the [[Septuaginta]], ἰδοὺ is the most common translation of the [[Hebrew]] demonstrative particle הנה (transliteration '''hinneh''' or '''hinei'''): it is used over 900 times. In the [[New Testament]], it appears about 200 times, mostly in the [[Gospel]]s of [[Matthew]] and [[Luke]]. As James H. Moulton stated in his inaugural lecture in Manchester in January 1906: ''"We very rarely use the interjection 'Behold' in ordinary speech, and normal late Greek speech did not use it much more than we do. In those parts of the New Testament which come from Aramaic sources, or are written by men (like St. James) who continued to use Aramaic as their ordinary language, we find this 'behold' extremely often.''"<ref>''The Science of Language and the Study of the New Testament'', Manchester, University Press, 1906, p. 16. by ''James Hope Moulton'')</ref>
== Translating ἰδοὺ ==
In the [[King James Bible]], ἰδοὺ is generally translated as ''behold''. Modern translations have various strategies to cope with this word which they regard as anachronistic: The [[New International Version]] and the [[New English Translation]] both tend to omit the word, the latter usually stating in a footnote that ''“the Greek word ἰδοὺ (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here but adds interest and emphasis.”''
However, in the preface to the [[English Standard Version]], the translators state:
:''[T]he word “behold,” usually has been retained as the most common translation for the Hebrew word ''hinneh'' and the Greek word ''idou''. Both of these words mean something like “Pay careful attention to what follows! This is important!” Other than the word “behold,” there is no single word in English that fits well in most contexts. Although “Look!” and “See!” and “Listen!” would be workable in some contexts, in many others these words lack sufficient weight and dignity. Given the principles of “essentially literal” translation, it is important not to leave ''hinneh'' and ''idou'' completely untranslated, and so to lose the intended emphasis in the original languages. The older and more formal word “behold” has usually been retained, therefore, as the best available option for conveying the original sense of meaning.''
== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />