LOST IN TRANSLATION

Lost in translation

"There iz no alternativ. Every possible reezon that could ever be offered for altering the spelling of wurds, stil exists in full force; and if a gradual reform should not be made in our language, it wil proov that we are less under the influence of reezon than our ancestors."

- Noah Webster

Language is one of those things that distinguishes us from animals, it is by definition the principal method of human communication. Using words in a structured and conventional way, we are able to engage in the art of communication. The simple fact that we can express ideas and how we feel through words is nothing short of amazing, take the English language, for example, there are more than fifty words that can be used to express being “hurt”. you hurt me: to hurt, to torment, torture, deject, injure, offend, afflict, oppress, put down, defeat, persecute, intimidate, devalue, victimize, disrespect, agonize, brutalize, abase, ridicule, chastise, invalidate, etc. and the list goes on.

Words conveyed through writing not only provide a means of communication but also a means through which precious information can be preserved through the ages. It is only through the pages of history books that we can have an opportunity to interact or at least learn some wisdom from our forefathers. History is passed on by word of mouth of course but emphatically speaking the most accurate records of history are those written down for they seldom change and are not subject to egocentric bias as opposed to word of mouth. It is truly a beautiful thing to be able to look into the past through the history books, but sometimes one can get “lost in translation”, owing to the fact that language is dynamic, that is to mean it is ever-changing. As the saying goes the only constant thing is change. Words often change meaning and this creates a problem because if you change the meaning of a word in a paragraph sometimes it can change the entire meaning or gist of a discussion.

Examples

From 1828 Webster Dictionary

Words

1. Meat = Food in general; anything eaten for nourishment, either by man or beast. The word is from old English mete, “meat” once used to refer to all solid foods.

2. Replenish = To fill; to stock with numbers or abundance. The magazines are replenished with corn. The springs are replenished with water.

3. Gay = Merry; airy; jovial; sportive; frolicksome. It denotes more life and animation than cheerful. Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay. Fine; showy; as a gay dress.

2022 Modern translations from Oxford learners and Advanced English dictionary

1. Meat = the soft part of an animal or a bird that can be eaten as food; the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food. Alternatively, the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience.

2. Replenish = replenish something (with something) to make something full again by replacing what has been used. fill something that had previously been emptied.

3. Gay = of people, especially men) sexually attracted to people of the same sex. Someone who is sexually attracted to persons of the same sex. Homosexual or arousing homosexual desires.

These are but a few examples, now consider how many words have changed since the 1800s, and how do we look at the books written in those eras. It is therefore important to understand the context of what’s written as is it important to know the meaning of words.

“We can reason intelligently only from what we know, and without demonstrated facts our fancied knowledge is worse than ignorance. With those who take no delight in true history, the proverb may apply: ‘ Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise.’” (Gleason, 1893.)

Sometimes we need to go down history to understand the great books of this world and by far the greatest book known to man is the BIBLE, my personal favorite version being the King James Version. Sometimes to answer certain questions that may arise it’s important to go down memory lane.

"The Bible must be considered as the great source of all the truth by which men are to be guided in government as well as in all social transactions."

- Noah Webster

Errors lost in translation

Now take time to consider the implications of the new meanings to these verses in the bible.

1. Genesis 1:29 “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.’’

2. Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth’’

3. James 2:3 “And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool”

These might seem like harmless linguistic issues but some individuals have chosen to form doctrines based on errors in translations. For example, consider the second verse, others have proposed the Gap theory of creation claiming that there are two creation accounts, one in Genesis 1 and another in Genesis 2. Claiming that when satan fell from heaven he destroyed the pre-Adamite creation of Genesis 1 and that’s why God creates and tells the created beings in Genesis 2 to “replenish” the earth because it was initially filled. This theory tries to fuse in millions of years between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 (thereby accommodating the theory of evolution in the bible). If one was to look up the word replenish, they would have a hard time arguing against that doctrine regardless of how ridiculous the argument sounds because in the current dictionaries replenish means to refill (to re-stock something that was initially stocked). But a theme study clearly shows that there was no death before Adam (Romans 5) destroying the entire argument. it is just a matter of looking up the original meaning of the words.

Here we see the kind of Heresy we can come up with if we don’t take time to analyze the context of God's word. If we want to study the word, do a theme study i.e., read reference verses, there is always more than one verse on a topic, the bible doesn’t contradict and therefore any doctrine we adopt from the word must be consistent or coherent with the rest of scripture otherwise it is just an error on our part. Another example is the issue of punctuation, did you know that when the bible was being written punctuations did not exist or at least not the modern form of punctuations we know.

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

What Christ was saying here is that on that day He (Christ) was making a promise to the thief that when the time comes they would both be in paradise (an assurance of forgiveness), They were not going to ascend to paradise on that very particular day but when the dead in Christ shall rise on the day when Christ comes for the second time. Why do I say this? because Christ did not go to heaven on that Friday when He died, He went on the following Sunday when He arose, The bible clearly teaches that Christ would be crucified on Friday and would be in the grave three days and rise on the third (Matthews 12:40).

John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

This was on the day of His resurrection, so why would He tell Mary that He had not ascended to the father if on the previous Friday He went to be in paradise with the penitent thief? the bible doesn’t contradict here, a theme study on the issue of resurrection, heaven, and hell will reveal with a lot of reference verses that the dead in Christ will only rise when He comes for the second time (1 Thessalonians 4:16). And the wicked will also rise at their appointed time to face their judgment (Revelation 20), I mean even the Angels that fell from heaven are not currently in Hell but are awaiting the day of Judgment (Jude 6). Its all a matter of punctuation which might have altered the meaning of the verse, the New Testament was written approximately around the 1st and 2nd century a considerable time before the debates of punctuations in most notable languages came into play.

The above discussion is but an example of how the word of God might be misrepresented.

The conclusion of the matter is this, the bible is truly an amazing book. Anyone who studies it will attest to the fact that the wealth of wisdom and knowledge couldn’t possibly be conjured by the intelligence of a man but by Devine intervention. In the bible are concepts, teachings, and doctrines that are beyond human comprehension even the atheist skeptic will have to stare in solemn awe at the prophecies in Daniel and Revelations for which no human explanation can be derived.

We have the privilege to ask the author of this word (2 Timothy 3:16) to give us the interpretation thereof and He will give it to us if we seek Him diligently. There are times when we will have to stand up for what we believe (1 Peter 3:15), and depending on whom we are in discussion with, the above kinds of arguments can be brought up and it is our duty to prepare to give an answer. Not to debate but sometimes when its appropriate just be ready and knowledgeable enough to give a reason for your belief and let us not perish due to lack of knowledge. There is a battle going on and some have dedicated their lives to belittle and discredit the word of God and we must study to show ourselves approved as workmen not ashamed of what we believe in (2 Timothy 2:15).

James 1: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.