Friday, October 28, 2011

Analyzing Six Bible Translations: Part 25-John 1:5

John 1:5
ESV The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
NIV84 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
NIV The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
HCSB That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.
NASB The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
NET And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.

Check a: “comprehend” versus “overcome”
                Johannine scholarship leans heavily on translating katelaben as “overcome.” The main reason is that in John 12:35, the author returns to a “light versus darkness” topic and uses this same verb. In that text, it is fairly clear that “overcome” is the superior translation.

Part 2 running totals:

ESV
NIV84
NIV
HCSB
NASB
NET
Josh 15:18
1
1
1
1
-1
1
2 Sam 20:20
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Isa 6:5
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Isa 7:14
1
1
-1
1
1
-1
Ezek 21:7
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Mal 2:16
1
-1
1
1
-1
0
Telling Time
0
1
1
1
0
1
Negative Particles
0
1
1
1
1
1
Textual Variants
1
1
0
-1
0
1
Matt 6:13
-1
1
1
1
-1
1
“the Jews” in FG
-1
0
1
0
-1
1
“signs” in FG
1
-1
1
1
1
-1
Gender issues
0
-1
1
1
-1
1
Matt 13:32
1
-1
1
1
-1
1
John 1:5
1
-1
1
1
-1
1
TOTALS
8
4
12
12
-1
4

2 comments:

Willis said...

I just discovered your blog in my ongoing quest to select the right translation. Thanks VERY much!

Willis said...

Also, these are the very translations from which I'm choosing, so this is especially relevant.