That's because MODERN English doesn't use them any more.
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No, but him and I sat thru a 4 hour movie on Hamlet directed by and starring kenneth Braugh, and he did word for word that story!
37818
Well-Known Member
And that is an inaccuracy in translation. MLV has a superscipt ° for a plural you° else you is to be understood to be singular.
The older NASB had an * for plural.
You are probably 100% correct. My memory is not to good and I have not consulted a New American Standard in many years.
Then I suppose you think 2 billion English users are wrong.
As far as I can tell, you can't access an older NASB online, and I do not presently have access to one. Checking the 1995 and 2020 on Bible Gateway (which might be different, though), there is no distinction between the singular and plural in John 3:7 -- Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ -- or Luke 22:31-32 -- “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” However, the 2020 has footnotes about the singular in Luke 22:32, but neither of them do in John 3:7.
37818
Well-Known Member
I will check. If so, I missed that note.
37818
Well-Known Member
Well typically, understanding the Bible texts where the plural or singulars are used changes the meaning as to whom is being referred to.
CONTEXT is everything.
The 1977 Nas was the best translation in regards to carrying over into the English Greek verb tenses!
37818
Well-Known Member
Context does not always tell you if a pronoun "you" is plural or singular.
No matter who likes it or not, "you" is the pronoun we use in English for the person or people being addressed.
37818
Well-Known Member
The translation can be made so the reader can know if the pronoun is singular or plural. MLV did so. The obsolete JW NWT did. Their 2013 edition removed that feature.
That's right. We probably have more cues to help us distinguish singular versus plural in context in conversation, since there is intonation, facial expression, body language, etc.. Even so, we in the South have adapted a singular-plural distinction that is very helpful. I think I always speak that way, and usually write that way as well, except in particularly formal writing. This is our y'all and you all -- so that y'all know whom we're talking about!
In Bible reading we often won't know that we have missed the singular-plural distinction unless we research it. John 3:7 and Luke 22:31-32 that I mention above are places we won't likely suspect it in context if we are just reading through it, and don't look up the words. John 1:50-51 is another:
Just reading that without investigating the words, we will most likely assume the "you" in verse 51 is the same "you" as verse 50 (Nathanael).
Here in southern Ohio/western WV, we often say "youse" for plural you, as well as "y'all".
Every translation in any language has its faults & imperfections, & the 'you' thingie is part of most modern English translations. And there are a great many who don't know that 'ye' is plural 'you'. (Before that, ye meant 'the', E. G. "Ye knights of old".
I think back in Missouri where my grandmother came from it was "you guys" or "youse guys." Not for sure. Also hear "you'uns" in some parts of the South; maybe it was that in SW Missouri. I think such usage shows we English speakers are somewhat uncomfortable with our lack of distinction with the word "you."
We also use the "all y'all" mentioned as a "Super Plural" in the linked article. I hear "you lot" a good bit in British TV/media.
37818
Well-Known Member
Well typically, in old English the ye, you and your are plurals. Thee, thy, thou and thine are the singulars.
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