Abstract

VAN ROOY, Herrie. An evaluation of the text-critical footnotes in the Book of Ezekiel in the 2020 Afrikaans translation of the Bible. Tydskr. geesteswet. [online]. 2023, vol.63, n.3, pp.488-505. ISSN 2224-7912.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2023/v63n3a7.

The 2020 translation of the Bible in Afrikaans is a direct translation that focuses on the source text in order to retain in the translation as much as possible of the source text, including stylistic features. The translation is based on a specific source text, the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS). This text contains words or phrases that posed problems that had to be solved by applying text-critical principles. The choices made are explained in footnotes to the translation. The footnotes in the Book of Ezekiel are evaluated in this article. First, the nature of the 2020 translation is discussed, after which the text-critical approach followed in this translation of the Old Testament is considered. The text history of Ezekiel is then described. Of special importance is the relationship between the Masoretic text and the Septuagint (that is, the Old-Greek translation of the Hebrew). The Old Greek is shorter than the Masoretic text in most instances, with relatively few additions. It also represents an older version of the book. The footnotes are based on the BHS, other Hebrew manuscripts, and the four important ancient translations (the Old Greek, the Peshitta, the Targum and the Vulgate). The 144 or so text-critical footnotes in the book are divided into seven groups. These groups are: (i) instances where the footnote only states that there is a problem in the text (without a detailed description); (ii) instances where the ancient translations provide solutions to a particular problem in the text; (iii) instances where solutions in the ancient versions are discussed, but not applied; (iv) instances where the ancient versions disagree with the Masoretic text and have been followed; (v) instances where the ancient versions have not been followed, but are mentioned in the footnotes; (vi) instances where conjectures were accepted; and (vii) one example of a tiqqun soferim. A representative sample of the footnotes is discussed, but all examples are listed in the different groups. The footnotes refer to the different kinds of problem the translators encountered in the Book of Ezekiel. Some problems concern words with an uncertain meaning. Others indicate problems arising from the transmission of the text, such as haplography or dittography. In some instances the various textual witnesses offer a solution to a particular problem, while in other instances more than one solution is possible. The approach of the 2020 translation was to translate the Masoretic text whenever possible. When it was not possible, solutions suggested by the textual witnesses were considered and evaluated. The footnotes provide, in most instances, a justification for the choices made, as well as other possible solutions. In some instances the footnotes could have provided more information, and sometimes the translation deviates from the principle of closely following the Masoretic text and avoiding conjectures. In spite of some points of criticism, the footnotes testify to a principled approach to the text-critical problems encountered in the Book. In many instances the footnotes followed the consensus of opinion in various commentaries and translations. Where there was no clear consensus, the majority opinion was usually followed, although in a few cases the translators constructed their own solution.

Keywords : 2020 Afrikaans translation; ancient translations; Bible translation; direct translation; Ezekiel; Masoretic text; Old Greek; Peshitta; Septuagint; Targum; text-critical approach; textual criticism; translation footnotes; Vulgate.

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