The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-08-26
Revision of the Bible.

be published by j. P. Jewett & Co., Bos-
ton, is enlisiting much comment from the
press, both secular and religious, in this
country and Europe. The Rev. Leiees-
ter Ambrose Sawyer, the learned trans
lator of this forthcoming revised edition
Of the sacred volume, has devoted the
past twenty years of bis life to Biblical
studies, With special reference to the In
dependent revision and translation OF the
Bible from the original languages. That
su.h revision is manifes tly needed, We
think has been abund antly shown by mel
of learning who have devoted their test
talent to this important subject; and il
the rules set forth by Mr. Sawyer, a. con
stituting the principles upon which bi,
translation is founded, are judiciously al
hered to, the proposed improvements up
on the common English version cauuot
but be, in the aggregate, of great ilnpor-
tance.
For the benefit Of those interested in
the subject, We give condensed summa
ry OF the considerations enumerated By
the translator as forming the basis of his
revision. Mr.. Sawyer proposes to trans
late from the most approved texts of the
originals; to do so with the utmost pre-
cision and accuracy, word for word, ADD
particle for particle, bat without servility
10 respect to idioma attic forms and m modes
Of expression; to traoslate the same words
By the same when they mean the same
things, and different words By different
words of corresponding meanings; tc
translate general terms BY those equally
general. and not the more general by the
less general, or vsce rerSa; to avoid al
needless ibdelioacy in the translation; to
translate into the present style of Ian.
guage In preference to the antique: to in,
terpolate as little as possible; to transfer
the names of weights, measures, coins, &C..
with expressions of their value in brack
cts; to arrange the sacred books accord
ing to their dates, aud divide them nto
chapters and verses according to their
natural divisions, and not allow chapters
to break up closely connected discourses
or verses to separate sentences.
Leaving this subject, in the naiD, to
the decision of the eolo5 5ians, We may never
theless be allowed to say that some ofthe
suggestions embraced in the above would
if wisely acted upon, certainly resnlt ia
vorably for the more perfect understand
ing of the Bible by the ordinary English
reader. Apr9pos of this, it may not be
improper to give an instance or two in
confirmation of this opinion from work
recently published Dr. Trench,
the Dean of Westminster, a distinguished d
grammarian aud Biblical scholar.
Among other individual reasons given
10 this work Why revision is needed, it
Is stated the word ITS occurs but once in
the Scriptures, and did not occur in the
original translation of 1911, the possess
i've case of al in accordance with the then
grammatis usage, having been his, 20 tia,
the translator spoke oftbe salt losing lis
SAVIOR. of the cand!eStick with lbs kH0pS
and hiS flowers, &c. So. too, instances
are given, showing that the meanings OF
the same words now and two hundred
years ago are so widely different as to
make the present rendering uuiOtelligiblr
to the Ordinary reader. One striking
example of this character is given from
Mathew vi, 25, in the words "Iahc no
thought for your life, what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink" Now, accord.
ing to the accepton of these words at the
present day these would seen to condemn
that provident foresight hich IS con- men
ded by Solomon in the proyerb "Go to
the ant, thou sluEcard, consider her way,
and be wise" The fact. however, that
at the time this translation was made, the
word thought was often used as syuopy-
nous with anGaety, is sufficient proof that
10 such condemnation was intended in
the language of the Saviour. Many other
changes equally as important are pointed
out in the book referred to-sucb, for ex
ample, a. meIjteacS having been u,ed for
grandchildren, the artcle-hte for q, possess
Tor acquire, carriage for baggage. &c, all
Of which would seem strongly to Indicate
he necessity for the contemplated reYis.
on Press.