readmore said:
I agree, it seems like "rape" is an unfortunate translation since it misses the point here completely.
Whether "uncovering nakedness" is considered an euphemism in Hebrew or not, so far I think pretty much everyone is in agreement that it's referring to something more meaningful than simply seeing a person naked. But your argument is that this should be translated literally, so that some might misunderstand it to mean "seeing someone's nakedness", and therefore affect some positive cultural change?
No, not exactly. I see I'll have to take time to explain fully. My answer here is predicated on the difference between an idiom and a euphemism.
When translating idioms, the exact meaning of the idiom is what is most important to me. However a euphemism is not the same as an idiom. An idiom is: "any expression peculiar to a language, conveying a distinct meaning, not necessarily explicable by, occasionally even contrary to, the general accepted grammatical rules." (
Dictionary of Linguistics, Mario Pei & Frank Gaynor, p. 95). In other words, often when you translate an idiom in a strictly literal rendering, the meaning changes and you have failed as a translator.
As a Bible translator, here are my own principles for translating an idiom:
Translate idioms directly in cases where the meaning comes across clearly in the receptor language. When the meaning of an idiom does not make sense in the receptor language, find an equivalent idiom or phrase to reproduce the meaning of the original.
On the other hand, a euphemism is: "the substitution of a word of more pleasant connotation for one of unpleasant or disagreeable connotation" (ibid, 68-69). Now the thing is, a euphemism can usually cross linguistic and cultural boundaries, while an idiom often cannot. As proof, consider that you, our respected thread-starter, began thinking about the passage in question as a euphemism on your own.
Now here's the rub. What if the euphemism is not one, and you translate it as one? Then you've failed as a translator. In this case, you have similar but different statements in the OT. In Lev. 20:17 you have "take" (an idiom for relations) and "see nakedness" (a euphemism), which add up to a clear meaning. However, all through Lev. 18 you have "uncover...nakedness," which is a possible euphemism. Translate it as is and it will likely cross the language/culture barrier. But if it is not a euphemism, then the translator has failed if he renders it as what he thinks the euphemism is.
Personally, I'm not convinced that the phrase "see nakedness" is always a euphemism for carnal relations. The belief that it is goes way back at least to Keil-Delitzsch, but they don't prove it to my satisfaction, and I've not seen sufficient proof elsewhere--though admittedly my expertise is Greek not Hebrew.
