Young’s Bible : History of Translation and Biography
The Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) of the Bible, first published in 1862, is one of the most notable literal translations of the Bible from the 19th century. It was created by Scottish biblical scholar Robert Young, who aimed to provide an English translation of the Scriptures that adhered as closely as possible to the original Hebrew and Greek texts. The YLT follows a formal equivalence philosophy, focusing on word-for-word translation rather than paraphrasing or interpreting meaning, making it an important work in the realm of Bible translations.
Background and Purpose of Young’s Literal Translation
Robert Young: The Translator
- Born: September 10, 1822, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Died: October 14, 1888.
Robert Young was a self-taught scholar, best known for his contributions to biblical scholarship, including his Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible, which was a groundbreaking reference work for Hebrew and Greek word studies. Despite having no formal higher education in theology or biblical studies, Young became a highly respected linguist and translator, particularly for his deep understanding of Hebrew, Greek, and other ancient languages.
Young was committed to providing tools that allowed readers of the Bible to study the Scriptures directly, without the need to rely on interpretative translations. His passion for biblical language study was rooted in the belief that every Christian should have access to the original meaning of the Bible, untainted by theological biases or denominational preferences.
Purpose of Young’s Literal Translation
Young created the Young’s Literal Translation because he felt that many existing English translations, particularly the King James Version (KJV), did not adequately represent the original languages. He believed these translations often introduced interpretative biases and deviated from the literal meaning of the text. As such, his goal with the YLT was to maintain as close an adherence as possible to the original Hebrew and Greek syntax, grammar, and wording, even if this resulted in awkward or difficult-to-read English.
Young’s translation aimed to:
- Minimize Interpretation: By sticking to a literal word-for-word translation, Young hoped to remove the theological biases and interpretive choices that he believed marred other translations.
- Preserve Tenses and Voice: Young was particularly concerned with accurately rendering verb tenses, especially in the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament, as he believed this had a significant impact on understanding the text’s meaning.
- Restore the Hebrew and Greek Structure: Where many translations altered sentence structure or used idiomatic English to make the text more readable, Young preserved the original Hebrew and Greek sentence structures as much as possible, even if this led to awkward phrasing in English.
Key Features of Young’s Literal Translation
- Literalness: Young’s Literal Translation is known for its rigid adherence to the original languages. For example, where other translations might render Hebrew verbs in a more fluid or contextual manner, the YLT stays true to the original tense. An example of this can be found in the rendering of the Hebrew imperfect verb tense. While many translations render this as a future tense verb, Young left it as a continuous action in the present or past, reflecting how the Hebrew text would have originally conveyed it.
- Accuracy in Verbs: One of Young’s major contributions is his precise attention to verb tenses, particularly the Greek aorist tense. Where most English translations might translate this as a past tense verb, Young retained its more timeless or undefined sense of action, emphasizing that the original Greek text often does not specify whether an action is completed or not.
- Consistency: Young believed in maintaining consistent translation of specific words. While many translations use a variety of English words for the same Hebrew or Greek word to make the text more readable, the YLT sticks with the same word wherever possible. This consistency aids readers in seeing patterns and repetitions in the original languages that are often lost in other translations.
- Marginal Notes: While Young’s Literal Translation is highly literal, Young provided marginal notes to help explain difficult passages or offer alternative translations when the literal rendering might be unclear to modern readers.
The History and Development of the Young’s Literal Translation
- First Edition (1862): The first edition of Young’s Literal Translation was published in 1862. At this time, Robert Young was already known for his work on biblical concordances and other linguistic tools. The 1862 edition of the YLT was groundbreaking in its approach to translation, offering readers a highly literal rendering of the text that differed significantly from the more popular translations of the day, including the KJV and the Douay-Rheims Bible.
- Subsequent Revisions: Over the years, Young’s Literal Translation underwent several revisions to improve accuracy and readability. While Young’s commitment to literalness remained unchanged, revisions were made to update the English language as it evolved and to reflect advances in biblical scholarship. The most notable revision was published posthumously in 1898, after Young’s death. This edition corrected several issues in the original 1862 version and made improvements based on further study of the biblical texts.
- Legacy and Influence: Despite not being as widely used as other translations, the YLT has maintained a dedicated following, especially among those who seek a highly literal and precise translation for Bible study. It has been influential in academic circles and is still used by pastors, theologians, and students who want to study the Bible in a form closer to the original languages.
The YLT has also influenced subsequent literal translations, such as the American Standard Version (ASV) and, to some extent, the English Standard Version (ESV), which attempt to balance readability with faithfulness to the original text. While it has never achieved the popularity of more readable translations, its commitment to preserving the original language structures has made it an important resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the biblical text.
Criticisms and Challenges
- Awkward Phrasing: The YLT’s strict adherence to Hebrew and Greek sentence structure often results in awkward or difficult-to-read English. For example, Hebrew and Greek often use different word orders and tenses than English, which can make the text feel stilted or unnatural to modern readers. This has led to criticism that the YLT sacrifices readability for the sake of accuracy.
- Limited Use in Devotional Reading: While the YLT is valuable for study purposes, it is less suited for devotional or casual reading. Its highly literal nature means that it is often less inspiring or emotionally resonant than more dynamic translations, such as the New International Version (NIV) or The Message.
- Outdated Language: Although Young’s translation was revised after his death, the English it uses can still feel archaic compared to modern translations. This can make it harder for contemporary readers to connect with the text, especially if they are unfamiliar with the language patterns of 19th-century English.
Robert Young: Biography and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Robert Young was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1822. His early education was largely informal, and he was mostly self-taught in the areas of linguistics and biblical studies. Despite this, Young developed a deep interest in ancient languages, particularly Hebrew and Greek, which were the primary languages of the Bible. His linguistic ability was largely self-acquired, driven by a desire to make the Bible accessible in its most literal form.
Career and Contributions
Young’s career was marked by his significant contributions to biblical scholarship. His Analytical Concordance to the Bible, first published in 1879, remains a valuable tool for those studying the Bible in its original languages. The concordance indexed every word in the Bible, providing both the Hebrew or Greek word from which it was translated and the different contexts in which it appeared.
In addition to his concordance and translation work, Young was also a publisher. He ran a publishing house in Edinburgh that specialized in printing religious and scholarly works. His reputation as a scholar grew steadily, and despite having no formal theological education, his expertise in biblical languages earned him respect in academic and religious communities.
Death and Posthumous Impact
Robert Young died on October 14, 1888, but his legacy continued through the works he left behind. The 1898 revision of the Young’s Literal Translation, published after his death, ensured that his translation would remain a key resource for Bible scholars and students. His concordance and translation tools have continued to be used long after his death, especially by those seeking a deeper, more literal understanding of the Bible.