When translating the biblical text into contemporary English, wouldn’t you want to use current language? Just as an example, when is the last time you told your wife, “Behold! I have finished cutting the grass”? Or perhaps you might say, “Dear, you look beautiful this morning. Just stand there and let me behold you.”
What? You haven’t said anything like that recently? You mean the word behold is not a part of your regular vocabulary? Okay, all kidding aside, it’s not a part of anyone’s regular vocabulary today. That is, unless of course you’re a translator for the ESV.
The English Standard Version uses the word behold over 1,000 times! Really? Are you serious, ESV editors? You think this is a good translation choice for a contemporary English audience?
The Holman CSB uses the word behold one time (even though Dr. Blum’s paper says it’s zero) in Job 33:26, “That man will behold his face with a shout of joy.” That had to have been a mere oversight, since the editors made a conscious decision not to use the word. Ironically, in this verse, the ESV does not use the word behold. Strange!
This is one of the other reasons I like the HCSB so much, especially compared to the ESV. The language is not archaic. It uses the same words that we use. It sounds like us while being accurate. Now that’s a good translation.
(Of course, the word behold might be making a comeback with the introduction of the Samsung Behold.)
Here are some comparisons of where the ESV uses behold and the HCSB uses something else. See which ones you think sound more natural:
Genesis 1:29
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. (ESV)
God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you. (CSB)
1 Samuel 26:24
Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation. (ESV)
Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the LORD consider my life valuable and rescue me from all trouble. (CSB)
Matthew 2:19
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt (ESV)
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt (CSB)
Revelation 1:17-18
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
(ESV)When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me, and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look– I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (CSB)
Obviously passages like these could be demonstrated over and over again. Which ones do you think sound more like standard English? Do you think the HCSB translations suffer in accuracy because they don’t use the word behold?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
AMEN!!!!!
I think you have nailed it spot on.
The second edition HCSB text, available from WORDsearch, has removed “behold” from Job 33:26 and replaced it with “see”, so Dr. Blum will be completely correct with the new printing.
The HCSB has been my main Bible for about two years now. I appreciate its readability and accuracy. I don’t know anyone who has a problem with accuracy in contemporary speech, so why should a Bible translation be any different? I will preface this statement by saying that I was raised on and love the KJV. After all, it is a translation of the very word of God. But while I am reading it, I can’t help but think that it sounds like a religious text that Shakespeare would have been proud to have written. And to a lesser extent, sometimes the ESV sounds like Shakespeare updated a couple of hundred years. Again, no irreverence intended. I could be satisfied if the ESV was the only English translation available, even the KJV. But since the HCSB is here, that is what I prefer. If only I would not have to wait to “behold” the new HCSB study Bible due next year!