Monday, November 15, 2021

NET Bible: Additions in Judges 5

Critics often denigrate the NWT for "adding to God's Word": they focus on texts like Colossians 1:15-17 and Acts 10:36. However, I wonder if these same critics are willing to be as severe with the NET Bible that often adds words "for the sake of clarity."

I personally have no difficulty with this practice, but the more I read NET and the NIV, the more I observe this practice. As one example, consider this link:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%205&version=NET

The link directs us to the NET translation for Judges 5. Do you notice how many times NET says something has been added to the text for the sake of clarity? Quite often. For instance, Judges 5:1 reads:

"On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this victory song"

The NET footnote for this verse states:

tn The words “this victory song” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

And on it goes throughout the fifth chapter of Judges. I will let the reader check the other instances for himself/herself.

As for the NIV, I noticed an interesting example yesterday:

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25).

Greek Text:
Κατὰ δὲ τὸ μεσονύκτιον Παῦλος καὶ Σιλᾶς προσευχόμενοι ὕμνουν τὸν θεόν, ἐπηκροῶντο δὲ αὐτῶν οἱ δέσμιοι·

Did you notice the words added by the NIV, including "other"?

Ironically, NWT 2013 translates this verse, "
But about the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God with song, and the prisoners were listening to them."

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