Principles of Translation
As the
official Research Secretary of the project, Mrs. Frances
Siewert (Litt. B., B.D., M.A., Litt. D.) laid the foundation
for the Amplified Bible. Mrs. Siewert (18811967)
dedicated her life to the intensive study of the Scriptures
as well as to the cultural and archaeological background of
biblical times. The Editorial Board, appointed by The
Lockman Foundation, carefully reviewed her monumental work
on the New Testament. The edited and proofread translation
was then submitted to a committee of qualified Greek
consultants. Twentyseven translations and versions of the
New Testament were meticulously examined and continually
compared, while the Greek text of Westcott and Hort, the
standard of the time, was pursued with utmost care. The
result was the Amplified New Testament in 1958.
This was followed by a twovolume Amplified Old
Testament in 1962 and 1964, which was the work of the
editorial committee, a staff of qualified Hebrew
consultants, and, once again, Mrs. Siewert’s contributions
as Research Secretary. All of this culminated with the
onevolume Amplified Bible in 1965.
The Amplified Bible is not an attempt to
duplicate what has already been achieved, nor is it intended
to be a substitute for other translations. It is intended to
supplement them authentically, concisely, and in convenient
form. The genius of the Amplified Bible lies in its
rigorous attempt to go beyond the traditional
"wordforword" translation to bring out the richness of the
Hebrew and Greek languages. The purpose of the Amplified
Bible is to reveal any other clarifying meanings from
the original languages that may be concealed by the
traditional translation method.
The Fourfold Aim That Guides All of Our Translation
Work
1. These
publications shall be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and
Greek.
2. They shall be grammatically correct.
3. They shall be understandable.
4. They shall give the Lord Jesus Christ His proper place, the
place which the Word gives Him; therefore, no work will ever be
personalized.
Preface To The Amplified Bible
In 1958
The Lockman Foundation and Zondervan Publishing House issued the
first edition of the Amplified New Testament after more
than 20,000 hours of research and prayerful study. Some four
years later the first of two Old Testament volumes appeared (The
Amplified Old Testament, Part Two Job to Malachi),
followed in 1964 by the publication of the Amplified Old
Testament, Part One Genesis to Esther. The next year (1965)
the Amplified Bible came out in one volume.
Now,
twentytwo years later, Zondervan Bible Publishers and The
Lockman Foundation are pleased to present the Amplified Bible,
Expanded Edition. The purpose of all the characters in the
story of the making of The Amplified Bible is still relevant
today: to communicate the Word of God to people and to exalt
Jesus Christ. This has been the fourfold aim of the Lockman
Foundation from the beginning:
1.
That it should be true to the original Hebrew and Greek.
2. That it should be grammatically correct.
3. That it should be understandable to the masses.
4. That it should give the Lord Jesus Christ His proper
place, the place which the Word gives Him.
From the
days of John Wycliffe (13291384) and the first English Bible to
the present, translators have worked diligently on English
versions designed to faithfully present the Scriptures in
contemporary language. The Amplified Bible is not an
attempt to duplicate what has already been achieved, nor is it
intended to be a substitute for other translations. Its genius
lies in its rigorous attempt to go beyond the traditional
"wordforword" concept of translation to bring out the richness
of the Hebrew and Greek languages. Its purpose is to reveal,
together with the single English word equivalent to each key
Hebrew and Greek word, any other clarifying meanings that may be
concealed by the traditional translation method. Perhaps for the
first time in an English version of the Bible, the full meaning
of the key words in the original text is available for the
reader. In a sense, the creative use of the amplification merely
helps the reader comprehend what the Hebrew and Greek listener
instinctively understood (as a matter of course).
The Text of the Amplified Bible
The text
of the Amplified Bible is easy to understand, and is made
even easier to understand by the inclusion of informative
footnotes which often alert readers to different textual
readings and give insight into Greek grammar and translation.
Numerous Bible translation are among the sources cited in the
footnotes, as well as some of the greatest lexicographers of all
time and some of the best of Bible commentators.
To help
readers achieve the greatest possible clarity and understanding
in their reading of the text of the Amplified Bible, some
explanation of the various markings within the text is
necessary:
Parentheses ( ) signify additional phases of meaning
included in the original word, phrase, or clause of the original
language.
Brackets
[ ] contained justified clarifying words o comments not
actually expressed in the immediate original text, as well as
definitions of Greek names.
Italics
point out:
1. certain familiar passages now recognized as not adequately
supported by the original manuscripts. This is the primary use
of italics in the New Testament, so that, upon encountering
italics, the reader is alerted to a matter of textual readings.
Often these will be accompanied by a footnote. See as an example
Matthew 16:23.
2. conjunctions such as "and," "or," and the like, not in the
original text, but used to connect additional English words
indicated in the same original word. In this use, the reader,
upon encountering a conjunction in italics, is alerted to the
addition of an amplified word or phrase. See as an example Acts
24:3.
3. words which are not found in the original Greek but implied
by it.
Capitals
are used:
1. in names and personal pronouns referring to the Deity. See as
an example 1 Peter 2:6.
2. in proper names of persons, places, specific feasts,
topographical names, personifications, and the like. See as an
example John 7:2.
The
Reference System:
The reference system of the Amplified Bible is contained within
the text. The Scripture references are placed within brackets at
the end of a verse, and are intended to cover any part of the
preceding verse to which they apply. If a verse contains more
than one Scripture reference, the list of references is in
Biblical order. A sensitivity to the prophecyfulfillment motif
is indicated by such references as [Fulfilled in. . . ];
[Foretold in. . . ]. |
