Bible Translation Principles

In most cases, differences among Bible translations are due to the use of different translation principles.

For example, let us consider the following Greek expression:

μὴ γένοιτο.

This expression is found in Bible passages like Romans 6:2. There are multiple valid ways to translate this expression into English, depending on what translation principles are used. Each valid way of translating has strengths and weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages.

The Formal–Functional Spectrum

There are two broad translation principles:

• Formal equivalence translation is more literal because it resembles the base text more closely.
• Functional equivalence translation is less literal so that the audience would understand it more easily.

Generally, a translation that is more formal is less functional, and a translation that is more functional is less formal.

Interlinear

The most extreme form of formal equivalence translation is an interlinear. In an interlinear, each expression in the base text is rendered individually.

If the example Greek expression were rendered into English as an interlinear, we might get:

Not may-it-be.

This translation is very literal, since it follows the base text very closely. However, this is not proper English. Because of this, users of interlinear Bible translations often wrongly understand Bible passages.

Formal Equivalence

Formal equivalence translations do not always follow the base text so literally. Rather, they often compromise on literalness so that their audience can understand the translation more easily.

The example Greek expression could be rendered into English in this manner:

May it never be! (LEB, NASB1995)

This translation is proper English, and most English speakers would understand it. Yet, it is still quite literal. However, this is not really natural English, since English-speakers do not normally say, “May it never be!”

Functional Equivalence

Functional equivalence translations paraphrase the translation further, in order to make it more understandable for the target readers.

The example Greek expression could be rendered into English in these manners:

• Absolutely not! (CSB, HCSB)
• Certainly not! (NKJV, GNT)
• By no means! (ESV, NIV, RSV)

These translations are much less literal, especially since the base text does not technically contain a word that means “absolutely”, “certainly”, or “means”. Yet, these translations still accurately communicate the meaning of the base text in proper and natural English, reflecting how English-speakers normally speak.

Functional Elements in Formal Translations

No Bible translation is purely literal or word-for-word. Rather, formal equivalence Bible translations use elements of functional equivalence in many places.

For example, the King James Version (KJV) is a formal equivalence Bible translation. Yet, it renders the example Greek expression in this manner:

God forbid.

The original Greek text of Romans 6:2 does not contain a word that means “God” or “forbid”. Yet, the KJV translators did not make a mistake. During the time that the KJV was produced, “God forbid!” was a proper and natural English rendering of the Greek expression μὴ γένοιτο. Hence, this is a place where the KJV translators decided to use functional equivalence rather than formal equivalence.