Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dave Washburn <dwashbur AT nyx.net>]

On Monday 14 November 2005 10:25, Rolf Furuli wrote:
> Dear Peter,
>
[snip]
> Translators using the idiomatic method all the time make decisions in
> behalf of the readers, and the readers have no part in the translation
> process. Translators of the literal translation make as few decisions as
> possible in behalf of the readers, and therefore the readers can have a
> part in the very translation process.  This is one way to interpret the
> term
> "semi-translation".
>
> A good example is Ecclesiastes 1:4.
> NIV: Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains for ever.
> NWT: A generation is going and a generation is coming; but the earth is
> standing even to time indefinite.
>
> An important question here is: Who is going to decide whether the writer
> implies that the earth may stand a long time and then be destroyed, or
> whether the meaning is that the earth will continue to stand without an
> end? The translator or the reader?  
[snip]

Actually, this is the wrong question.  A more important and pertinent 
question 
is context: is this a theological statement at all?  The answer is a 
resounding "no."  The whole book repeatedly uses statements like "as I have 
seen," "man under the sun," and so forth.  Neither the author nor the 
narrator is making any kind of theological statement in this verse.  He's 
saying "From what I've seen, nothing ever changes.  Generations rise and 
fall, the earth is always there."  From this kind of POV, and in such a 
context, "forever" is a much better rendering because it conveys the 
perspective of the observer making the statement.  Whether it is 
theologically in accord with the rest of the Hebrew Bible is irrelevant, 
because that's not where this narrator is coming from.  From his earthly, 
somewhat despairing viewpoint, the earth does indeed continue forever.  So if 
we're going to be true to the intent of the text, this is how we ought to 
render it. 

-- 
Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
"Maybe I'll trade it for a new hat."