Étude 1 sur 4 · Dans quelle langue, Jésus, s'exprimait-il ?

  1. Étude 1 : Dans quelle langue, Jésus, s'exprimait-il ?
  2. Étude 2 : Jésus et les idiomes de son époque
  3. Étude 3 : Le nom imprononçable de Dieu
  4. Étude 4 : Différence de travail entre traduction et révision

Contradictions

  • CTD043 In which language did Jesus speak?

    Article CTD043 addresses the alleged contradiction between Matthew (“Eli, Eli…”) and Mark (“Eloï, Eloï…”) regarding Jesus’ cry on the cross. Linguistic analysis shows that Jesus spoke Aramaic (as evidenced by “sabachthani” in both texts) and that the difference between “Eli” (the Hebrew form) and “Eloï” (the Aramaic form) simply reflects each evangelist’s adaptation to his readership. There is no contradiction.

    Mark 15.34 (King James Version) :
    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

Historical notes

  • INF005 Jesus and the Idioms of His Time

    This article examines the main languages used by Jesus and his contemporaries in Palestine: Aramaic, the everyday language of the people; Hebrew, the liturgical language of the synagogues; and Koine Greek, the language of Roman administration and cultural exchange. New Testament examples illustrate each linguistic usage, revealing the richness of the multicultural context of the first century.

    Mark 5.41 (King James Version) :
    And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

  • INF010 The unpronounceable name of God

    YHWH, God's proper name in the Hebrew Bible, consists of four Hebrew consonants (the Tetragrammaton). Its exact pronunciation is unknown because ancient Hebrew does not write vowels. Out of respect for the third commandment (Ex 20:7), Jews replace it with 'Adonai' or 'Ha Elohim'. Translated as 'Kyrios' in Greek and then as 'the Eternal' in Protestant Bibles, this name appears nearly 6,800 times in the Old Testament.

    Exodus 20.7 (King James Version) :
    Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
    King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
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    Level: Easy Audience: Beginners

  • INF074 Difference in work between translation and revision

    This article distinguishes Bible translation, which consists of creating a new version from the original texts in Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic, from revision, which improves and updates an existing translation. Translation requires mastery of the source languages and involves choices between literal fidelity and dynamism. Revision corrects errors, modernizes the language and improves readability. The example of the Segond Bible and its 1910 revision concretely illustrates these two complementary processes.

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    Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate

Further reading
  • ANN054 The Jews

    Article ANN054 clarifies the terms used to describe the people of Israel: Jew, Israelite, Israeli, Hebrew, and Semite. Each term has a distinct meaning depending on the…