Thursday, May 19, 2011

The most awkward translation in the ESV?

I am generally a big fan of the ESV. I understand why people push the Holman and the NIV in some contexts, but the ESV has been my Bible of choice since my uni days.

Though sometimes it's just plain awkward.

John 18:25
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."
So.... are they asking him if he is, or if he isn't one of Jesus' disciples. And when he says "I am not", is he saying that he is not not one of the disciples, in which case he is a disciple. Or is he denying that he's not a disciple?

Thankfully some of the other translation options initially put forward for the question, were discarded:
  • Also you, one of his disciples not, are you?
  • You also are one of his disciples, are you not?
  • Not also, are you, one of his disciples, are you?
  • One of his disciples, you also, you are?
  • Disciples, one of also, are you, you are?
  • Aren't you also one of his disciples?

1 comments:

  1. I do not think this is that difficult. A negative statement followed by a positive query is standard english for a question expecting a negative response, which is what Peter gives. Only logicians struggle with this.

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