The 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 (1952) and its revisions as a linear emergence of the Tyndale–King James Version tradition

Abstract

Revisions of the 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 of 1611 continued into the 20th and 21st centuries as literal or word-for-word translations. This development corresponds with a new age in Bible translation that started in the second half of the 20th century, which involves at least six changes in the philosophy of Bible translation. Firstly, Bible translation is characterised by interconfessional cooperation. Secondly, the plain meaning intended in the incipient texts is made accessible to readers. Thirdly, new critical editions of the Hebrew and Greek incipient texts on the basis of new discoveries of texts are utilised. Fourthly, there is the tendency to remove archaic language to make versions intelligible. Fifthly, there is a tendency to use gendered and inclusive language. Sixthly, the move is from print communication, which can be typified as typographic interpretive culture, to electronic or media communication, which can be typified as digital-media interpretive culture, where sound and visuality become prominent as a contextual supplement to words. In the analysis it will be determined which of these aspects are reflected in the𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 and its revisions as part of the linear emergence of the Tyndale–King James Version tradition. However, unlike the 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, the 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 and its revisions failed to achieve widespread approval from satisfied readers, thus opening the door to alternative revisions.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Instead of viewing the 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 and its revisions as new and independent from the Tyndale–King James Version tradition, it is demonstrated that they are a linear continuation of the emergence of the pre-20th century translation complex within this tradition without replicating the success of the King James Version.