A martyred witness to a translation error

A translation issue (or error) is a translation that is not faithful to the original in terms of meaning.

In general, it is not possible to avoid translation errors. The best that can be done is to recognize that they happen and to do ones best to understand the original text and meaning.

Be aware that using the word "error" or "mistake" or something similar may not sound very good, so, in many fields, there are alternative names for these ideas that do not sound as bad.

Names mean things.

In computer programming, a bug is an error in software. However, Microsoft does not like to refer to bugs as bugs. Instead, the following terms have been used by their support staff when talking to customers.

an issue, such as a known issue or an intermittent issue
design side-effect
undocumented behavior
technical glitch
anomaly

Avoiding using the word "bug" has been christened "Microspeak", at least by James Gleick. Gleick, J. (September 1997). "A bug by any other name...", in Visual Basic programmer's journal, Vol 7, No. 10, p. 128..

More: James Gleick

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [kjv]

ος εν μορφη θεου υπαρχων ουχ αρπαγμον ηγησατο το ειναι ισα θεω [gnt]

… cum … forma … rapinam … aequalem … [v]

2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [kjv]

διο και ο θεος αυτον υπερυψωσεν και εχαρισατο αυτω το ονομα το υπερ παν ονομα [gnt]

An "equivocation" is done when two "names" are made to be "equal" whereas the corresponding "things" or "meanings" are not "equal". The English word "equivocate" is from the late Latin word "aequivoco" ≈ "call or name in the same way".

In Greek, if the context does not make it clear that two things are "equal" using "is", then the explicit Greek word "ισα" ≈ "equal" is needed, as in the above verse.

More: Aristotle

More: Deceptions

More: Equivocation deception between names and meanings

There are passages in the Bible that are somewhat ambiguous or appear to not be translated as well as could be translated.

I once attended a "Bible preaching" Baptist church for a while. One week, I attended a Sunday School class. In the discussion, I mentioned an obvious mis-translation in the Bible. The teacher exclaimed quite emphatically that there were no translation errors in his class. That week, the pastor called me and ended up saying that even if a teacher taught something that was in contradiction to what the Bible said, I should not say anything. Needless to say, I never went back there again.

There are many translation issues in any translation of almost any work of writing. There are variations of translation that are open to disagreement.

The Standford Natural Language research group has stated (I talked to the famous researcher once at a linguistics conference, but forget his name right now) that it is hard to get computers to tag parts of speech (noun, verb, etc.) with more than, say, 96% accuracy because human experts cannot agree on more than 96% of the source texts.

I think the passage I had in mind when I made the translation error comment was the following.

Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. [kjv]

οιδα που κατοικεις οπου ο θρονος του σατανα και κρατεις το ονομα μου και ουκ ηρνησω την πιστιν μου και εν ταις ημεραις αντιπας ο μαρτυς μου ο πιστος μου ος απεκτανθη παρ υμιν οπου ο σατανας κατοικει [gnt]

Note that the KJV (King James Version) has "martyr", as does the Geneva Bible. The Tyndale and Wycliffe translations have "witness".

The Greek word «μαρτυς» , pronounced "mar-tus" means witness. So many Christian witnesses were killed for their witness that the name "martyr", over time, come to mean a witness who died for their witness.

So the question is not whether there are mistranslations in the Bible. The question should be: show me a mistranslation that is important theologically, or in some other important manner.

Let us now look at one example of a translation error in the Bible. Specifically, from the original Greek to the KJV. The context is in Revelation where Jesus is dictating a letter to John for the church at Pergamon.

We are interested in the words related to "witness" and "martyr".

The Latin word is "testis" from which we get the word "testify".

Revelation 2:13

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KJV: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Greek: οιδα τα εργα σου και που κατοικεις οπου ο θρονος του σατανα και κρατεις το ονομα μου και ουκ ηρνησω την πιστιν μου και εν ταις ημεραις εν αις αντιπας ο μαρτυς μου ο πιστος μου ος απεκτανθη παρ υμιν οπου κατοικει ο σατανας κατοικει

Latin: scio ubi habitas ubi sedes est Satanae et tenes nomen meum et non negasti fidem meam et in diebus Antipas testis meus fidelis qui occisus est apud vos ubi Satanas habitat

Wycliffe: Y woot where thou dwellist, where the seete of Sathanas is; and thou holdist my name, and denyedist not my feith. And in tho daies was Antifas, my feithful witnesse, that was slayn at you, where Sathanas dwellith.

Tyndale: I knowe thy workes and where thow dwellest evyn where Sathans seat ys and thou kepest my name and hast not denyed my fayth. And in my dayes Antipas was a faythfull witnes of myne which was slayne amonge you where sathan dwelleth.

Geneva: I knowe thy workes and where thou dwellest, euen where Satans throne is, and thou keepest my Name, and hast not denied my faith, euen in those dayes when Antipas my faithfull martyr was slaine among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Luther: Ich weiß, was du tust, und wo du wohnest, da des Satans Stuhl ist, und hältst an meinem Namen und hast meinen Glauben nicht verleugnet, auch in den Tagen, in welchen Antipas, mein treuer Zeuge, bei euch getötet ist, da der Satan wohnet.

In the verse, Jerome, Tyndale, Wycliffe, Luther use the word "witness" but the KJV and Geneva Bible use "martyr".

The Latin word "testis" ≈ "witness" from which we get the English word "testify".
The Latin word "testimonium" ≈ "witness" from which we get the English word "testimony".
The Latin word "martyr" ≈ "martyr".
The Latin word "confessor" ≈ "confessor, martyr" followed the same course as the Greek. So many who confessed their faith were killed for their confession that a confessor became known as what we today would call a martyr.

Revelation 2:13 … Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. [kjv]

… witnesse… [wy]

… witnes … [ty]

The ancient Greek word "μάρτυς" ≈ "witness" and is the source of the English word "martyr". After the time of Jesus, so many "witnesses" for Christ were killed for their witness that the word meaning narrowed to a witness who is killed for their witness.

The modern Greek word "μαρτύρας" (mar-TEE-ras) ≈ "witness". The modern Greek word "μαρτυρία" (mar-tee-REE-a) ≈ "testimony".

How faithful is the Rev 2:13 in the translation of the KJV?

Justin Martyr (100-165) was an early Christian father. He gained the name "Martyr" by being a faithful witness who was executed for his faith.

Saint Stephen was the first recorded Christian martyr (in the modern sense of the word "martyr"). It is not clear how the change was made from the original "witness" to the word for "martyr". The Greek word is similar, but other translators did not make that error.

Rev 2:13 : KJV translates «μάρτυς» as "martyr".
Acts 10:41 : KJV translates «μαρτυσιν» as "witnesses".
Acts 22:15 : KJV translates «μάρτυς» as "witness".
Romans 1:9 : KJV translates «μάρτυς» as "witness".
Phil 1:8 : KJV translates «μάρτυς» as "record".
1 Thessalonians 2:5
1 Peter 5:1
Rev 1:5
Rev 11:3

Such is the difficulty of a faithful translation from one language to another.

Despite the presence of errors in translations, there are some who will insist that their translations contains no translation errors, even if they cannot read nor understand the original language (i.e., Hebrew, Greek, etc.).

In one church I attended for a while, I visited a Sunday School class. During the discussion, I mentioned a mistranslation issue in the text we were studying, a simple and clear translation issue similar to the one above. The Sunday School teacher was outraged and emphatically exclaimed, "There are no translation errors in my Sunday School class!".

A few days later, I received a call from the Pastor. He was known as a "Bible preaching" pastor. After a short discussion, he informed me that even if there were translation errors in the Bible or something was said in Sunday School class about the Bible that was not correct, I was not to mention anything about it in any Sunday School at his church.

He appeared more interested in getting people into the church to support his own belly, to use Paul's words, than that they hear the truth.

Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. [kjv]

οι γαρ τοιουτοι τω κυριω ημων χριστω ου δουλευουσιν αλλα τη εαυτων κοιλια και δια της χρηστολογιας και ευλογιας εξαπατωσιν τας καρδιας των ακακων [gnt]

Near the end of Romans, Paul says that false teachers, to support their "belly", will use "useful words" and "good logic" to deceive the overly-trusting congregation. Paul makes a pun between "Christ" and "useful" (words).

The ancient Greek word "χρηστός" ≈ "good, useful".
The ancient Greek word "χριστός" ≈ "anointed one".

In modern Greek these words are pronounced the some.

The modern Greek word "χριστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "Christ, anointed one" .
The modern Greek word "χρηστός" (hree-STOS) ≈ "useful" where "useful".

In ancient times, there was a small difference in how they sounded.

More: Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words

Asking the correct question is more important that having the correct answer, or an incorrect answer. Answers can change but questions tend to remain the same.

An answer that is not important (and probably wrong): My Bible translation has no translation errors.

A question that is relevant and important: Show me a Bible translation error in my Bible that has Theological importance. The translation error identified above does appear to be a translation error. It is not theologically important in any meaningful way.

Here is a simplified paraphrase of the original Greek and a mistranslation.

Original: ... a witness who was martyred ...
Mistranslation: ... a martyr who was martyred ...

The more serious mistranslations are where someone has an agenda to change the original into something with which they are more comfortable.

Details are left as a future topic.

In the LXX (Septuagint), the Greek word for "martyr" as "witness" is used in 301 verses. In 138 of those verses, the KJV uses the translation of "congregation" of the Hebrew word.

Deuteronomy 31:14

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KJV: And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Hebrew: ויאמר יהוה אל משה הן קרבו ימיך למות קרא את יהושע והתיצבו באהל מועד ואצונו וילך משה ויהושע ויתיצבו באהל מועד׃

Greek: και ειπεν κυριος προς μωυσην ιδου ηγγικασιν αι ημεραι του θανατου σου καλεσον ιησουν και στητε παρα τας θυρας της σκηνης του μαρτυριου και εντελουμαι αυτω και επορευθη μωυσης και ιησους εις την σκηνην του μαρτυριου και εστησαν παρα τας θυρας της σκηνης του μαρτυριου

The Hebrew word "מועד" (mo-wed) ≈ "of meeting". מועד - of meeting

In the LXX this is translated as "of witnesses" and in the KJV as "congregation".

Job 15:34

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KJV: For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

Hebrew: כי עדת חנף גלמוד ואש אכלה אהלי שחד׃

Greek: μαρτυριον γαρ ασεβους θανατος πυρ δε καυσει οικους δωροδεκτων

The Hebrew word "עדת" (a-dat) ≈ "the company". עדת - the company

From the above, the Greek meaning at the time appeared to be of a meeting or group or company who were all "witnesses" to one underlying idea.

The ancient Greek word "ἁμαρτία" ≈ "error, mistake, fault, sin" and is, literally, anything that is "not a witness".

The word appears 150+ times in the GNT (Greek New Testament) and 350+ times in the LXX.

The modern Greek word "αμαρτία" (a-mar-TEE-a) ≈ "sin".

The corresponding Hebrew word "חטא" (chata) ≈ "sin"which means sin as in "to miss the mark" or "to go wrong".

The analogy is often made to archery and missing the center of the target. חטא - sin

Genesis 18:20

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KJV: And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Hebrew: ויאמר יהוה זעקת סדם ועמרה כי רבה וחטאתם כי כבדה מאד׃

Greek: ειπεν δε κυριος κραυγη σοδομων και γομορρας πεπληθυνται και αι αμαρτιαι αυτων μεγαλαι σφοδρα

Latin: dixit itaque Dominus clamor Sodomorum et Gomorrae multiplicatus est et peccatum earum adgravatum est nimis

Wycliffe: And so the Lord seide, The cry of men of Sodom and of men of Gomorre is multiplied, and her synne is agreggid greetli; Y schal come doun,

Luther: Und der Herr sprach: Es ist ein Geschrei zu Sodom und Gomorrha, das ist groß, und ihre Sünden sind fast schwer.

Russian: И сказал Господь: вопль Содомский и Гоморрский, велик он, и грех их, тяжел он весьма;

Apparently Sodom and Gomorrah missed the mark by quite a lot, to the extent that Sodom is the source of the English word "sodomy". The above Hebrew verse uses a compound word for "and their sin". וחטאתם - and their sin

The Russian word "грех" (grekh) ≈ "sin" appears to have come from a word that means "to heat" or "to warm". Is that where sin eventually leads? That is, without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Automatic translation by computer is good and getting better but still has issues in certain respects.

Modern automatic language translations systems, such as Google Translate, use machine learning and statistical pattern matching rather than language grammar and spelling rules and specific knowledge of the languages being translated.

So, for example, the Greek word for "well", as in a "hole in the ground", might go through English to get translated into Russian as "well", as in "very good".

More: Automatic language translation errors

What is not there may be important?

Consider this self-referential sentence that has real issues. First, find them. Then ask yourself the following question. How easy is it to fix them?

More: An errant look at Biblical inerrancy and infallibility

Have you ever been in a class, such as Sunday School, where the teacher asked the following question?

"What was the author's intended meaning?"

This idea can be a problem in understanding the Bible since God, Jesus, and/or the Holy Spirit may dictate to a prophet what to say. The prophet may not know what they are writing actually means. They are the conduit for the true author.

The problem comes in, say, when the teacher asks, "What did Daniel mean when he wrote such and such?". Or "What did John mean in Revelation when he wrote such and such?". The idea applies to any of the prophets.

More: Daniel 12: Knowledge shall increase in the end times