The HCSB Has No Soul

[TCGreek]

That's because 'Nephesh' does not just mean 'soul' in the English sense but can (and does) also mean, 'me', 'my life' etc.

1. BDB list as one of the nuances of nephesh: "seat of emotions and passions," and cites Ps 86:4 as an example.

HCSB: "Bring joy to Your servant's life,
since I set my hope on You, Lord."

ESV:"Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul."

NLTse: "Give me happiness, O Lord,
for I give myself to you."

2. I'm not convinced that we should replace "soul" with "I" and so on.

3. Something is definitely lost in translation (ask Bill Murray).

Compare Ps 23:3

NLTse: "He renews my strength."

HCSB: "He renews my life."

NASB, ESV: "He restores my soul."

4. We have three different meanings for the one Hebrew word nephesh. I'll go with "my soul."

 

[Deacon]

2. I'm not convinced that we should replace "soul" with "I" and so on.

Apparently some translators feel so strongly about using the word “soul” that they even add the word.

O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord:
My goodness extendeth not to thee;
Psalm 16:2 AV 1873

For strangers are risen up against me,
And oppressors seek after my soul:
They have not set God before them. Selah.
Psalm 54:3 AV 1873

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psalm 30:12 NASB95

3 For strangers are risen up against me,
And oppressors seek after my soul:
They have not set God before them. Selah.
Psalm 54:3 AV 1873

his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
Psalm 49:19 ESV

Wake up, my soul!
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.
Psalm 57:8 HCSB

When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart, Psalm 73:21 ESV

It turns out that the word nephesh is used almost interchangeably with lebab – the heart, often meaning the inner man.
So it’s not infrequent to find lebab translated as soul too.
[see Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, p. 427]
Today we might use the word “guts”... but heart, life, even soul works too.

3. Something is definitely lost in translation (ask Bill Murray).

I can’t believe you watched that movie… I can’t believe I watched it too.
Terrible movie, what a waste of time! :smilewinkgrin:

4. We have three different meanings for the one Hebrew word nephesh. I'll go with "my soul."

So you like the sound of “soul”.
Would you impose a limit on the translation of the Hebrew word nephesh just to satisfy your itchy ear?

If so, then something indeed would be lost in translation, the original meaning!

{NASB frequently translates the Hebrew word, nephesh as “life”}

Rob

 

[TCGreek]

Apparently some translators feel so strongly about using the word “soul” that they even add the word.

O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord:
My goodness extendeth not to thee;
Psalm 16:2 AV 1873

For strangers are risen up against me,
And oppressors seek after my soul:
They have not set God before them. Selah.
Psalm 54:3 AV 1873

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psalm 30:12 NASB95

3 For strangers are risen up against me,
And oppressors seek after my soul:
They have not set God before them. Selah.
Psalm 54:3 AV 1873

his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
Psalm 49:19 ESV

Wake up, my soul!
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.
Psalm 57:8 HCSB

When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart, Psalm 73:21 ESV

1. I got you.

It turns out that the word nephesh is used almost interchangeably with lebab – the heart, often meaning the inner man.
So it’s not infrequent to find lebab translated as soul too.
[see Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, p. 427]
Today we might use the word “guts”... but heart, life, even soul works too.

2. The BDB thought so too.

I can’t believe you watched that movie… I can’t believe I watched it too.
Terrible movie, what a waste of time! :smilewinkgrin:

The best thin about that movie is its title. :smilewinkgrin:

So you like the sound of “soul”.
Would you impose a limit on the translation of the Hebrew word nephesh just to satisfy your itchy ear?

3. Not just itchy ear, but its nuance--the seat of the emotions--life doesn't capture that concept.

If so, then something indeed would be lost in translation, the original meaning!

{NASB frequently translates the Hebrew word, nephesh as “life”}

4. Well, nephesh has the meaning of "life", so context would determine when "life" is the best rendition.

 

[TCGreek]

1. I note the HCSB uses soul in Ps 103:1:

My soul, praise the LORD,
and all that is within me, praise His holy name.

2. I guess the translators couldn't get around this one.

 

[Deacon]

Re: Ps 103:1
Aye, they couldn’t leave it out here but the word “soul” is properly defined as “all that is within me”…
…it’s not a nebulous specter within a body.

It’s inclusion is necessary to maintain the poetic form of the psalm.
Holman’s CSB arranges the psalm very well, better than most of the others,
The chiastic structure becomes quite evident.
This couldn’t be done by translating the word as it typically is translated in this version.

Here’s a good one:

Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.
Psalm 7:2 NASB95

or they will tear me like a lion,
ripping me apart, with no one to rescue me.
Psalm 7:2 HCSB

or he tears my throat as a lion,
crushing, with no deliverer.
Deacons Devotional Version

(even Alter missed this one)

Lest like a lion they tear up my life---
Robert Alter

Rob