From: Steven Craig Miller (scmiller@www.plantnet.com)
Date: Thu Dec 30 1999 - 10:36:42 EST
<x-flowed>To: Grant Polle, Dr. Theodore "Ted" H. Mann, et al.
GP: << I have noticed for many years that some bible translators render
Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna all by the one word "hell." Despite
theological meanings that we each may assign, doesn't it seem logical that
a difference should be illustrated? >>
THM: << If distinctions of meaning exist between terms in Greek, those
distinctions should be reflected in English (or any other receptor
language). >>
How does one determine (for example) if the author of 2 Peter was using the
Greek verb TARTAROW (which is only used once at 2 Peter 2:4) with a meaning
significantly different from similar terms?
And why should a translation's decision on this issue be a litmus test for
determining whether or not a translation is a "loyal translation" (see
subject header). Can't people have differences of opinion without someone
questioning their loyalty?
My own personal preference is that hAiDHS should be translated as "Hades,"
and GEENNA should be translated as "Gehenna." Thus the English term "hell"
would be dropped from my translation. I'm uncertain how TARTAROW should be
translated. But I doubt there is one right way to translate these terms.
This seems to me to be something of personal preference or taste.
If I were creating a translation, I would probably add a footnote to
"Gehenna" noting (something to the effect) that the Greek term GEENNA is a
transliteration of the Aramaic 'gehinnam' which means 'Valley of Hinnom,' a
shortened form of 'gebenhinnam' meaning 'Valley of the Sons of Hinnom.' It
is located S-SW of Jerusalem and is today known as Wadi er-Rabebeh. It
first became a place of infamy (according to Hebrew scripture) when Ahaz
and Manasseh, two kings of Judah, sacrificed their children there (2 Kgs
16:3; 21:6; 2 Chr 28:3; 33:6). It was later used as a refuse dump and so
fires would continually burn in the Valley of Hinnom in order to burn the
trash. By at least the 1st century BCE, Gehenna became a metaphor for a
place of judgement by fire for the wicked.
Perhaps a similar footnote should be made for the term "Hades."
-Steven Craig Miller
Alton, Illinois (USA)
scmiller@www.plantnet.com
Disclaimer: "I'm just a simple house-husband (with no post-grad degree),
what do I know?"
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