From: Alan M Feuerbacher (alanf@mdhost.cse.tek.com)
Date: Fri Aug 25 1995 - 12:00:36 EDT
I'd like to get some scholarly opinions about the translation of
part of Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7. In the NRSV these read:
what will be the sign that all these things are about to be
accomplished? (Mark 13:4) ~~~~~~~~~
what will be the sign that this is about to take place? (Luke 21:7)
~~~~~~~~
I've underlined the verb in question. The Greek word is "melle"
and occurs in these verses this way:
semeion otan melle tauta sunteleisthai panta
semeion otan melle tauta ginesthai
As best as I can see, the literal translation is:
sign whenever may-be-about these-things to-be-fulfilled all
sign whenever may-be-about these-things to-be-occurring
In various translations the passage is rendered:
sign when these things are all to be accomplished
sign when this is about to take place (RSV)
sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled
sign when these things are about to take place (NASB)
sign that they are all about to be fulfilled
sign that they are about to take place (NIV)
sign when these things are all about to be accomplished
sign when these things are about to come to pass (ASB)
sign will there be that it is all about to take place
sign will there be that it is about to take place (NJB)
sign that all these things are about to be fulfilled
sign that these things are about to happen (REB)
sign will there be that all these things are going to come to an end
sign will there be that these things are going to take place (Phillips)
sign when all these things shall be fulfilled
sign will there be when these things shall come to pass (KJV)
sign when all these things are destined to come to a conclusion
sign when these things are destined to occur (NWT)
According to Bauer's Lexicon, something like the above literal translation
is the closest in meaning to the original Greek. As you can see, some
translations render these with subtle differences. Even though the first
four words of the Greek are identical, some translations render them
differently. There is a difference between "about to occur," "going to
occur," "shall occur" and "are destined to occur."
I'd like to know what you scholars think is the best rendering, and why.
Alan Feuerbacher
alanf@mdhost.cse.tek.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:37:26 EDT