Variations in Bible Translations: Necessity or Impoverishment?

Abstract

The article agrees that meaning-for-meaning rather than word-for-word sums up the primary scope of translation from biblical texts. Yet Greek and Hebrew words may enjoy the same or at least very similar meanings in different contexts; and the scriptural authors may intend intertextual links between their use of these words. In such cases differing translations can not only be unnecessary but may also lead readers to miss links intended by the authors. This case is established by examining the use of phaneroō (‘reveal,’ John) and diakoneō (‘serve,’ Mark).