Trevor V. Evans, «Some Alleged Confusions in Translation from Hebrew to Greek», Vol. 83 (2002) 238-248
Two remarkable passages in the Greek translation of Numbers have recently been identified by Anssi Voitila. Both show a clear influence from Hebrew verbal forms on the translator’s choices of Greek verbal forms which overrides the semantic indicators of the broader context. Confused translations result. Are they isolated phenomena or representative of translators’ habits in general? Voitila argues for the latter interpretation. He seeks to demonstrate a number of additional instances in the Greek Pentateuch and sees here support for the theory of segmentation in translation technique, as developed by the Helsinki School. The present paper reassesses his examples and draws the opposite conclusion.
means ‘teem with’. The Greek verb means ‘bring forth’. As a result the sense of the entire sentence is decisively altered in the Greek, where the relative clause can be taken to express consequent occurrence. I translate the Greek ‘God made the great sea-monsters and every living thing among creeping animals, which the waters (then) brought forth according to their kinds’.
Num 25,17-18: 'Exqrai/nete toi=j Madihnai/oij kai_ pata/cate au)tou/j, o#ti e)xqrai/nousin au)toi_ u(mi=n e)n dolio/thti, o#sa doliou=sin u(ma=j dia_ Fogw/r, kai_ dia_ Xasbi_ qugate/ra a!rxontoj Madia_n a)delfh_n au)tw=n, th_n peplhgui=an e)n th=| h(me/ra| th=j plhgh=j dia_ Fogw/r
.Mtw) Mtykhw Mynydmh-t) rwrc
Mhylknb Mkl Mh Myrrc yk
Mkl wlkn-r#$)
ybzk rbd-l(w rw(p-rbd-l(
hkmh Mtx) Nydm )y#&n-tb
rw(p-rbd-l( hpgmh-Mwyb
Voitila’s explanation that the present indicative e)xqrai/nousin in Num 25,18 is motivated by the Hebrew participial expression Mh Myrrc and in turn encourages the use of the present doliou=sin for the perfect wlkn is satisfying15. Difficulties arise with the comment that what precedes is a narrative passage. Immediately before the sentence in question we in fact find a series of imperatives, la/lhson (a Greek plus) in v. 16, e)xqrai/nete for the imperatival infinitive absolute rwrc and pata/cate for the consecutive perfect Mtykhw in v. 17. So it is hardly surprising to find the translator taking Mh Myrrc to refer to the present and translating with e)xqrai/nousin. As Voitila recognizes, it is context which then motivates the choice of doliou=sin for wlkn. The Greek makes sense as a general expression of the effects of Midianite influence in the matter of the local god Phogor, which is a continuing danger. Only mention of the matter of Chasbi introduces a specific reference to a past event and this may be read as an amplifying addition regarding the deceit of the Midianites. One might translate ‘to the extent they are deceiving you through Phogor, and (have done) through Chasbi’ if it is felt necessary to spell out the temporal sequence (in any case Chasbi is to some extent a symbol of an ongoing temptation — there are other Midianite women). Once again the rendering distorts the sense of the Hebrew, but does not have to be interpreted as indicating lack of sensitivity to the broader context. The Greek version may be translated ‘be enemies to the Midianites and smite them, for they are enemies to you in their deceit, to the extent they are deceiving you through Phogor, and (have done) through Chasbi daughter of the ruler of Midian, their sister, the woman struck down on the day of the plague on account of Phogor’.
Num 14,13-14: kai_ ei]pen Mwush=j pro_j ku/rion kai_ a)kou/setai Ai!guptoj o#ti a)nh/gagej e)n i)sxu/i sou to_n lao_n tou=ton e)c au)tw=n, a)lla_ kai_ pa/ntej oi( katoikou=ntej e)pi_ th=j gh=j tau/thj a)khko/asin o#ti su_ ei] ku/rioj e)n tw=| law=| tou/tw|
w(m#$w hwhy-l) h#$m rm)yw
wrm)w
.wbrqm hzh M(h-t) Kxkb tyl(h-yk Myrcm
w(m#$ t)zh Cr)h b#$wy-l)
hzh M(h brqb hwhy ht)-yk