These are the goals the translator should pursue when translating from one language to another (in this case, from Greek to English). If all of them are met, the result is a perfect translation. Because languages never match each other exactly, perfect translations are not always possible.
The overall aim is to convey the same meaning from the source language to the target language.
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Consistent — A Greek word should normally have only one English rendering.
For example, kurios (the Greek word for “master”) should always be translated as “master.” Most Bibles render it sometimes as “master,” most often as “lord,” once as “god,” and at other times as “sir.” It can and should be translated consistently as “master.”When a Greek word has more than one meaning, the translator should look for an English word that covers the same range of meanings. Even when the senses differ, they should share a clear common link. -
Unique — Each English rendering should be unique, because each Greek word is unique. Multiple Greek words should not share the same English translation. Doing so ignores the distinctiveness of the original terms.
For example, some Bibles translate six different Greek words as “master”:κύριος G2962 (a master)Each of these can and should receive its own distinct English translation.
δεσπότης G1203 (an owner)
διδάσκαλος G1320 (a teacher)
καθηγητής G2519 (a mentor)
ῥαββί G4461 (a Rabbi)
ἐπιστάτης G1988 (a boss)
κυβερνήτης G2942 (a helmsman) -
In Current Usage — The English rendering should be a word that ordinary, unchurched people use today. The Bible should not be translated with archaic English.
Language is constantly changing: new words replace old ones, and old words fall out of use. Translating Greek into outdated vocabulary obscures the original meaning and forces readers to have terms explained. Current, everyday words need no definition because people already know what they mean.For example, “grace” is an old word. Centuries ago it was common and everyone understood it. Today many people cannot define it. Replace it with “generosity” and the meaning is immediately clear. Grace is generosity. -
Not Misleading — The English translation must convey the same meaning the Greek word has. When an English word has several senses, the translator must ensure that the sense the reader naturally takes is the one intended by the Greek.
Many Bibles render 2 Timothy 2:15 as “Study to show yourself approved unto God.” “Study” is not archaic, yet it misleads modern readers. The Greek word does not mean “study.” In earlier English, “study” could mean “make an effort.” That older sense is what the translators intended, but most readers today do not know it.The same problem appears with “believe” and “faith.” Both once meant “trust.” The Greek means trust, yet that is not what most readers understand from “believe” and “faith.” The English translation must not mislead.
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Related — Related Greek words should receive related English translations.
Groups of Greek words that share a root should keep that relationship visible in English. For example, ἐλέγχω, ἔλεγχος, ἀπελεγμός, ἔλεγξις, and ἐξελέγχω all contain the root ἐλέγχ-. They can all be rendered with forms of “reprimand”: to reprimand, a reprimand, a complete reprimand, to fully reprimand, etc. - One Word — Whenever possible, the English translation should be a single word. The Greek is one word; a single English word is ideal. Multi-word renderings (e.g., “a pattern of thinking” for νόημα) can become wordy and confusing. When English simply has no single equivalent, a short phrase may be necessary, but one-word renderings remain the goal.
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Etymology — The contribution of a Greek prefix, suffix, or compound element to the word’s meaning should be reflected in the English.
For example, νομοδιδάσκαλος G3547 is a compound of νομο- (“law”) and -διδάσκαλος (“teacher”). The natural translation is therefore “law teacher,” not “doctor of the law.” - Frequency — Common Greek words should be rendered by relatively common English words; rare Greek words should be rendered by correspondingly rarer English words.
- Easy to Understand — The English should be clear to as wide an audience as possible. Prefer simpler vocabulary and aim for a lower reading-grade level.
- Natural and Comfortable — The rendering should sound natural and fit smoothly in context. Revisit the translation later to test how it reads. The reader should feel at ease with the wording.