The Bible was originally written thousands of years ago in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. When translating the Bible into modern languages like English, translators face many challenges. One of those is deciding what punctuation to use.
Punctuation like periods, commas, question marks, etc. were not used in the original biblical manuscripts. But they are necessary in English for the text to make sense. So how do translators determine where to put punctuation when translating the Bible into English?
The Original Biblical Languages Did Not Use Punctuation
In the original languages, the biblical texts were written in all capital letters with no spaces between words, no punctuation, and no verse or chapter divisions. This continuous script was the standard way of writing at that time. Punctuation marks were later innovations of languages like English.
So when translating the Bible into English, the translators have to insert punctuation marks where they think are appropriate based on the grammar and context. The original texts offer no guidance on where to put punctuation.
Translators Use Grammar and Context Clues
Translators use the grammar and context to determine where punctuation makes the most sense. For example, if one sentence ends with a verb and the next sentence starts with a noun or pronoun, the translator will likely put a period there to divide the sentences. Or if a sentence contains a list of items, the translator will use commas to separate the items in the list.
Translators look at the surrounding phrases and sentences and use context clues to decide if a comma, semicolon, dash, or other punctuation is needed to help ideas flow properly in English. Their goal is to stay faithful to the meaning while adding punctuation to help modern readers understand the text easily.
Different Translations Use Different Punctuation
Since punctuation insertion requires judgement calls by the translators, different Bible translations end up using different punctuation. For example, consider this verse from Luke 23:43:
“And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (ESV)
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (KJV)
Both translations are valid options based on the Greek text. The differences in comma placement change the nuance of when “today” occurs. But both communicate the same overall message that Jesus spoke these words to the criminal on the cross and promised they would be together in paradise.
Later Translators Cannot Change the Original Texts
It’s important to understand that the later addition of punctuation does not change the original text. The original Greek and Hebrew remains unaltered. Punctuation is simply added to help English readers properly understand the text. But the placement of punctuation cannot contradict or change the meaning of the original manuscripts.
Some people wrongly claim that differences in punctuation meaning between translations mean the Bible has errors or contradictions. But what it really reveals is that punctuation was not part of the original texts. It was added later by translators to make sense in English. The original words remain unchanged.
Does Punctuation Matter for Understanding the Bible?
Overall, the differences in punctuation between Bible translations do not significantly impact doctrinal teachings or theological beliefs derived from the Bible. While small details or nuances may change based on punctuation differences, the overall doctrinal teachings and meanings remain the same.
Punctuation does not affect the meaning of key narratives, morals teachings, prophecies, gospel presentations, or other major components of the biblical texts. The core teachings and accounts remain the same across translations regardless of punctuation differences.
In a few rare instances, punctuation can impact how a passage is interpreted. But often there is enough wider context and consensus to still determine the correct meaning despite punctuation variation between translations. Punctuation marks are meant to aid understanding, not override the original intent of the text.
Translators Strive to Punctuate Appropriately
Bible translators take punctuation placement seriously. They focus intently to punctuate correctly based on the grammatical and contextual clues available. Translators know that punctuation impacts readability and want to punctuate appropriately to make the English text understandable.
But differences between translations should be expected. Punctuation involves some level of subjective judgment since it wasn’t originally included. Viewing differences as alternate ways to correctly punctuate the texts, rather than contradictions or errors, is the proper perspective.
The Goal Is Readability, Not Word-for-Word Punctuation
Bible translators punctuate based on English readability, not trying to mimic original text punctuation. Since the original manuscripts have no punctuation, it would be impossible to directly import it word-for-word into English. The translators’ goal is not to carry over source text punctuation, but rather create a readable English translation.
Readability in the receptor language takes priority. Matching the Greek/Hebrew word order and grammar structures is a secondary concern. Punctuation is added to make the English text coherent, even though it was not part of the original manuscripts.
Modern Translations Follow Different Translation Philosophies
Another factor that influences punctuation differences between Bible versions is their overall translation philosophy. Some versions stick very closely to formal equivalence, keeping the English text as close to the original wording as possible. Others prioritize dynamic equivalence, adapting the text more freely to be easily understood.
Formal equivalent translations are likely to stay closer to the original text grammar and punctuation patterns. Dynamic equivalent translations feel more freedom to punctuate based on English readability alone. But both approaches have the same goal – appropriately conveying the original meaning.
Summary of Main Points
In summary, here are the key points to understand about punctuation in Bible translations:
- The original biblical manuscripts contained no punctuation.
- Translators add punctuation based on grammar and context clues.
- Differences in punctuation between translations do not mean the Bible has errors.
- Core teachings and doctrines remain the same regardless of punctuation differences.
- Translators punctuate carefully with the goal of creating readable English text.
- Readability in English has priority over matching original manuscript punctuation patterns.
While punctuation varies between translations, the theological truths and essential teachings of Scripture remain unchanged. Punctuation is added to help modern readers, not alter the original meanings. Understanding these key principles helps explain the rationale and process translators use when adding punctuation.
Examples of Punctuation Difference Impacting Interpretation
In most cases, punctuation differences do not significantly impact the meaning of Bible passages. But occasionally they can influence how a verse or passage is interpreted. Here are a few examples where punctuation variations have led to different interpretive understandings:
Luke 23:43 – Jesus’ statement to the criminal on the cross
“And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (ESV)
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (KJV)
The difference in comma placement affects whether “today” goes with “say” or “be with me.” But both convey the criminal would join Jesus in paradise soon.
Romans 4:1 – Paul’s question about Abraham
“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?” (ESV)
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?” (KJV)
The commas make it less clear if Paul is calling Abraham “our forefather” or “our father.” Though the overall meaning is unchanged.
1 Thessalonians 2:15 – Opponents of Paul and the Thessalonians
“Who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind.” (ESV)
“Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men.” (KJV)
The punctuation affects if “their own prophets” connects back to the opponents or the Thessalonians. But again, the general meaning is intact.
So in some cases punctuation can influence subtle interpretation differences. But these do not undermine the trustworthiness or authority of Scripture. The core message comes through regardless of punctuation details added later.
Principles for Evaluating Punctuation Differences
When examining punctuation differences between Bible versions, here are some key principles to keep in mind:
- Remember the original manuscripts contained no punctuation. View differences as alternate punctuation options, not errors.
- Focus on the overall message and meaning rather than nitpicking punctuation details.
- Consult multiple translations and scholarly sources to understand the range of possible punctuation options.
- Look at grammar and the larger context to discern the most likely meaning instead of relying on punctuation alone.
- Key teachings and doctrines remain intact regardless of punctuation placement.
- Trust the Bible’s authority based on full context, not the presence or absence of commas and periods.
With these principles in mind, minor punctuation differences can be studied and analyzed without undermining trust in the reliability of Scripture. We must base our confidence in God’s Word on the full testimony of what the Bible teaches, not individual punctuation marks added centuries later by translators.
The Benefits of Variety Between Translations
While differences between Bible translations can seem confusing at first, in the end they provide some helpful benefits:
- More perspectives – Different translations allow us to see multiple ways the grammar and context could be punctuated.
- Fuller understanding – No single translation communicates every nuance. Comparing versions helps fill out the fuller meaning.
- Maintains discussion – Some ambiguity due to punctuation variety leads to healthy ongoing study and debate.
- Preserves original texts – Keeping the original manuscripts without imposed English punctuation shows respect for the ancient texts.
The variety between translations provides a richer understanding of Scripture overall. While following core principles when examining punctuation differences, believers can read with confidence that God’s Word remains true.
Practical Guidance for Reading Bible Translations
When selecting and reading Bible translations, here are some key practical tips to keep in mind regarding punctuation:
- Use translations that prioritize readability and understanding in English.
- Compare versions and see how punctuation differences impact interpretation.
- Focus on the overall message and meaning rather than nitpicking punctuation.
- Consult commentaries and resources when punctuation significantly influences interpretation.
- Remember core teachings stay the same regardless of punctuation.
- Maintain confidence in Scripture based on total context, not punctuation alone.
By following these tips, Christians can read their preferred translation with confidence while still analyzing punctuation decisions critically. Minor translation differences do not undermine the Bible’s trustworthiness when viewed properly in full context.
Conclusion
In summary, the lack of punctuation in the original biblical manuscripts means translators must make educated decisions when adding punctuation to English Bible versions. There is no perfectly objective way to punctuate, so differences between translations should be expected.
But the core message and teachings of Scripture remain reliable. As long as the differences are analyzed through the proper lens of respect for the authority of God’s Word, punctuation variety can provide added perspectives. Christians can be confident that despite punctuation differences, God’s truth is preserved and communicated through faithful modern Bible translations.