And God Said

December 14, 2009
Author Hoffman, a linguist and a translator, uses his knowledge and his skills to correct some of the common errors in translating the language of the Bible from Hebrew into English. His initial three chapters are devoted to explaining linguistics and “translation theory,” skillfully clarifying complex concepts. The remaining five chapters ably apply these ideas to biblical phrases that, according to Hoffman, require rewording. He begins with the important commandment, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” He convincingly claims that the Hebrew words for “heart” and “soul” have been “severely mistranslated” and should be rendered as “mind” and “body.” Similarly, Hoffman effectively demonstrates errors in rendering “shepherd,” “my sister, my bride,” two of the Ten Commandments, and “virgin.” Attentive readers will find this book to be valuable for properly understanding the Bible.

March 1, 2010
Scholar and translator Hoffman ("In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language") brings us a work of both levity and erudition. His book probes the difficulties and oft-encountered inaccuracies of English translations of the Bible. Hoffman confronts the complexity of both the Hebrew-to-English translation and the sociocultural milieus of ancient and modern, which the art of translation attempts to bridge. Starting with the King James Version (KJV) and offering comment on subsequent English translations, e.g., New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), English Revised Version (ERV), American Standard (ASV), and Revised Standard Version (RSV), the author insightfully discusses the biblical lexicon (e.g., words like "king, shepherd", and "heart") and how best to translate them. Hoffman elucidates and modernizes the biblical text with contemporary examples of pop culture, such as his use of the O.J. Simpson trial to demonstrate a point. While at times the book may feel heavy with Hebrew terms, this should not deter the faint of heart from attempting this delightful text. VERDICT Full of interpretive insight, Hoffman's work is a good resource for those interested in the topic of English Bible translation, or the challenges of translation generally. Recommended for synagogue, church, and public libraries.Anthony Elisa, JKM Theological Lib., Chicago

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