If it were up to you, which phrase would you prefer to use in your Bible translation?

[alexander284]

If it were up to you, which phrase would you prefer to use in your Bible translation:

"brothers"

"brothers and sisters"

"brethren"

 

[Reformed]

If it were up to you, which phrase would you prefer to use in your Bible translation:

"brothers"

"brothers and sisters"

"brethren"

It always depends on how the word is rendered in the original language. Consider the following examples, first in the Greek and next in English. The words in question are bolded in red:

John 1:40 ῏Ην Ἀνδρέας ὁ ἀδελφὸς Σίμωνος Πέτρου εἷς ἐκ τῶν δύο τῶν ἀκουσάντων παρὰ Ἰωάννου καὶ ἀκολουθησάντων αὐτῷ·

John 1:40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Luke 10:39 καὶ τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαριάμ, [ἣ] καὶ παρακαθεσθεῖσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ κυρίου ἤκουεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ.

Luke 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

James 3:10 ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος ἐξέρχεται εὐλογία καὶ κατάρα. οὐ χρή, ἀδελφοί μου, ταῦτα οὕτως γίνεσθαι.

James 3:10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

The common masculine and feminine rendering of "brother" in the Greek is ἀδελφὸς (adelphos) for "brother" and ἀδελφὴ (adelphe) for "sister". When the word is plural it is most commonly rendered as ἀδελφοί (adelphoi), "brethren". Some modern interpretations such as the NASB 2020 what to eliminate the masculine connotation of adelphoi, "brethren". While their motivation is probably not to please to the Woke movement, it nonetheless misinterprets the Greek. At best it is unnecessary. At worse it opens the door for further changes that may be far more damaging.

 

[Rob_BW]

I guess the most accurate way to translate would be to use siblings, and allow the reader to decide. But that would be some ugly English.

 

[McCree79]

If it were up to you, which phrase would you prefer to use in your Bible translation:

"brothers"

"brothers and sisters"

"brethren"

There isn't enough in the OP to answer that question.

I assume you mean how would I prefer to translate αδελφοί (adelphoi). Context would decide that. There is several occasions where "siblings" or "brothers and sisters" is actually the preferred reading. Sometimes it is not.

However, I do believe it is in error to render υιός (huios) as anything other than "son"....never as "child" as the NIV has done.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[alexander284]

It always depends on how the word is rendered in the original language. Consider the following examples, first in the Greek and next in English. The words in question are bolded in red:

John 1:40 ῏Ην Ἀνδρέας ὁ ἀδελφὸς Σίμωνος Πέτρου εἷς ἐκ τῶν δύο τῶν ἀκουσάντων παρὰ Ἰωάννου καὶ ἀκολουθησάντων αὐτῷ·

John 1:40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Luke 10:39 καὶ τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαριάμ, [ἣ] καὶ παρακαθεσθεῖσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ κυρίου ἤκουεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ.

Luke 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

James 3:10 ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος ἐξέρχεται εὐλογία καὶ κατάρα. οὐ χρή, ἀδελφοί μου, ταῦτα οὕτως γίνεσθαι.

James 3:10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

The common masculine and feminine rendering of "brother" in the Greek is ἀδελφὸς (adelphos) for "brother" and ἀδελφὴ (adelphe) for "sister". When the word is plural it is most commonly rendered as ἀδελφοί (adelphoi), "brethren". Some modern interpretations such as the NASB 2020 what to eliminate the masculine connotation of adelphoi, "brethren". While their motivation is probably not to please to the Woke movement, it nonetheless misinterprets the Greek. At best it is unnecessary. At worse it opens the door for further changes that may be far more damaging.

In instances like James 3:10, it sounds to me like you're saying "brethren" is the most accurate translation.

Putting aside the use of the term "brethren," I'd be curious to know whether you would prefer the term "brothers" or the phrase "brothers and sisters."

 

[rlvaughn]

If it were up to you, which phrase would you prefer to use in your Bible translation:

"brothers"

"brothers and sisters"

"brethren"

I assume you mean how would I prefer to translate αδελφοί (adelphoi).

Assuming with McCree that your question refers to the translation of αδελφοί, I prefer brethren. As far as translation is concerned, "brothers" would not be incorrect, and "brothers and sisters" would not be incorrect in the right context. If the masculine plural form in Greek is rendered in the masculine plural form in English (either brethren or brothers) we have a more exact replication, and do not have the further interpretation of translators whether the context means "brothers and sisters" or just "brothers".

 

[tyndale1946]

Well since I don't know Greek it's not up to me and I guess that why it's in English... The Lord knew somewhere down the road Brother Glen wouldn't know Greek so he changed it to English... Brother Glen

 

[alexander284]

Assuming with McCree that your question refers to the translation of αδελφοί, I prefer brethren. As far as translation is concerned, "brothers" would not be incorrect, and "brothers and sisters" would not be incorrect in the right context. If the masculine plural form in Greek is rendered in the masculine plural form in English (either brethren or brothers) we have a more exact replication, and do not have the further interpretation of translators whether the context means "brothers and sisters" or just "brothers".

I just wanted to take a minute, and apologize to everyone for not being more specific in my initial post!

I guess I was in such a hurry to "get it out there," that I didn't take the time or effort to be more diligent and thorough (prior to posting the new thread).

But again, thank you for your reasoned response to my query!

 

[alexander284]

1. Brethren,

2. Brothers,

3. Brothers and sisters.