Translating the Old Testament terms for the sacrifices and festivals consistently with each other

What is it about?

When we render terms for sacrifices and festivals in the Old Testament, it is helpful to look at the very different ways in which translations have dealt with these groups of terms and see which of their translation methods are the most helpful for our own translation and its specific readership. This article considers renderings in the new Tatar translation of 2015 and translations in a number of major European languages. Translations have often not been consistent as to which translation method has been followed in this area, but it seems advisable to render sacrificial and festival terms succinctly and consistently according to one translation method that is considered to be the most suitable for the intended audience, in order to show the contrasts between these terms. The article closes with some thoughts on whether some of these methods are more accurate than others and what we mean by accuracy.

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Why is it important?

As translators, we render the different terms for the various sacrifices and festivals in accordance with the same translation method, so that we don't end up with a literal translation for one term and, for example, a functional translation for another term. The article suggests guidelines to achieve this.

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