Peeling a Pomegranate

I’ve written about the cards and criteria that I use to quickly see if a tarot deck is one I will like. I’ve realized that I also have a growing list of criteria for choosing another of my primary tools, a Tanack. These criteria only apply to English translations, and many are directly related to what happens when the Torah and other books are translated to English.

There are many excellent translations of the Tanack, but like your cards, it just depends on what is important to you and how you intend to use it. Remember - while the Torah may be Divine words, translations are run through human filters. There have also been many instances of ‘Westernizing’ of English translations. This Westernizing is really one of the foundations of my criteria for choosing a translation. Another is the balance between accurate translation and poetic license for ease of reading. My final criteria is scholarly commentary and extras. I am neither specifically for against scholarly additions. It is more about specific additions and how they add or detract from the edition.

I suppose it is not surprising that some Westernization has occured in English translations of the Tanack. Even if the translators are Jewish, they still live in a society dominated by Western, Christian culture. Over time standard conventions of the Christian bible like numbering verses, variations of names, and the names of the books, have been incorporated. Neither of these is good nor bad, although it does raise the question as to why.

A growing complaint I have with most editions is a prime example of Westernization: the changing of names, especially the women’s. These changes are not small or trivial, and cannot be attributed to dialects or regional pronunciation. I have yet to be able to discover where, when, or why Chava was changed to Eve. Why was her name changed and not Adam’s? There are many other instances of large name changes, but the Chava change is the one that bothers me the most. Now I look for editions that use Chava, not Eve.

I’d also love to find, and have yet to, an edition that uses the actual names of God, and not just God or Adonai or YHVH. The first usage is Elohim. Why not just use that or what it means. Even my favorite translations use the YHWH for everything. I really wonder why. It seems to strip some really important meaning from the passages.

My only litmus test right now is the Chava/Eve item. Beyond that I look for an explanation of the translation methodology. That’s how I’m basing whether or not it’s a volume with which I’m interested in working. The ultimate would also have the traditional Torah portions listed, by name and the Jewish names of the books, alongside the English names.

My current edition is the Everett Fox translation. He outlines his methodology quite clearly and I really like how he’s treated the language. His commentary throughout, I feel, makes it easier to distinguish between his interpretation and literal translations, too. I especially liked his translation/interpretation of Genesis 1:6, which is one of my favorite passages because it seems so out of place. He even comments on how odd this passage seems in his commentary, and why it may have been added/kept.

Tags:
translations, Torah, Tanack