Follies of Armchair Translation – “Another translation would be…”

Marginal readings in the King James Bible are an interesting window into the translation process. Far from giving license for the reader (or preacher) to substitute words or regard “or” as a synonym for “50-50 coin flip,” they show “possible” translations that the translators ultimately regarded as incorrect for the text. It’s interesting to listen to a preacher “trade” words in the text to make his point only because the word exists in a lexicon entry (among so many others) as if the translators were unaware of the possibility. Unlike today’s armchair translators who run to Strong’s lexicon as if it were a Biblical thesaurus, 47 translators under the guidance of the Holy Ghost actually understood the languages they were working with. If an amature translator changes a word in the text to prove a point he is making, he is subjecting the word of God to his personal theology and has decided that his ability to read a lexicon trumps the learned efforts of translators who could actually speak the language– learned efforts that God has honored with over 400 years of blessing and dissemination.

6 thoughts on “Follies of Armchair Translation – “Another translation would be…””

  1. I dread falling into this trap! I likewise dread tripping over others’ social or cultural “adjustments” to what the word’s (or passages’s) original sense was…

  2. OoohKaaay, so I still wonder what we’re supposed to do with them; what’s the other half the equation, so to speak. I frequently when reading will note the marginals and mention if appropriate to me. Much appreciate this discussion (and your blessed work) and would read more if available. Thanks much. ~ esm

  3. Good points, brother. I totally agree. It is what they eventually put into the TEXT that is the inerrant words of the living God. Thank you for your stand on the King James Holy Bible. God bless.

  4. Brandon: I have met so many “arm chair translators” who think they know more than God Himself! They get me angry…lol. Also, Thank you brother for the videos you made in defense of The Word of God, The Authorized King James Bible. Your videos are a great blessing to those of us who also defend the KJB. I also have your Swordsearcher Bible Program I bought so many years ago on disc. Superb Bible program!

Leave a Reply to Joel Farmer Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *