To help people understand some of the intricacies of translation, we're going to give some actual examples of issues that sometimes come up in translating Scripture. Take a look and think about how you might deal with these issues!
Suppose you were working with a people group to translate the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matt. 7:24-27. In that story, Jesus describes how when we put his words into practice, we are like a wise man who builds his house upon the rock; the rains may come, but they will not wash away the house because it is on a strong foundation. But if we ignore Jesus' words, we're like a foolish man who builds his house upon the sand; our lives are easily swept away.
However, when this people group comes to translating this passage, they get confused. "We don't understand what Jesus means here," they say. You inquire further, and you find out that in their area, the river often rises during flood season, and many houses are in danger of being washed away. In fact, if you just build your house on a rock surface, it will typically get washed away when the floods come. So what do these people do to keep their houses secure? They build them on the sand instead! The sand allows them to bury poles down deep, and these poles form the foundational structure for the house. When the floods come up, the houses set on these poles don't get washed away. (I have seen houses in the Florida area like this.)
So how do you translate Matt. 7:24-27 for these people? What would you do? Comment below with your thoughts, and I'll tell about the solution that one translation team came up with in a future post.
Suppose you were working with a people group to translate the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matt. 7:24-27. In that story, Jesus describes how when we put his words into practice, we are like a wise man who builds his house upon the rock; the rains may come, but they will not wash away the house because it is on a strong foundation. But if we ignore Jesus' words, we're like a foolish man who builds his house upon the sand; our lives are easily swept away.
However, when this people group comes to translating this passage, they get confused. "We don't understand what Jesus means here," they say. You inquire further, and you find out that in their area, the river often rises during flood season, and many houses are in danger of being washed away. In fact, if you just build your house on a rock surface, it will typically get washed away when the floods come. So what do these people do to keep their houses secure? They build them on the sand instead! The sand allows them to bury poles down deep, and these poles form the foundational structure for the house. When the floods come up, the houses set on these poles don't get washed away. (I have seen houses in the Florida area like this.)
So how do you translate Matt. 7:24-27 for these people? What would you do? Comment below with your thoughts, and I'll tell about the solution that one translation team came up with in a future post.
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