Better Khmer Bibles Blog

KSV John 2:17 and Psalm 69:9 Error

2011-04-06T22:06:00.004+07:00

John 2:17 quotes Psalm 69:9 and in the KSV reads: «មកពីទូលបង្គំស្រឡាញ់ព្រះដំណាក់របស់ព្រះអង្គ បានជាគេប្រហារជីវិតទូលបង្គំ»

The main problem with this text is that the translation miss-links the subject of the verb "to kill/consume/ប្រហារ" with "they/គេ" (which actually does not exist in the original Greek) rather than the "zeal/love/ស្រឡាញ់" of the speaker.

In Hebrew Psalm 69:9 (actually verse 10 in the Hebrew Bible) reads:
כִּֽי־קִנְאַ֣ת בֵּיתְךָ֣ אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי וְחֶרְפּ֥וֹת ח֝וֹרְפֶ֗יךָ נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃

The translators apparently ignored the clear subject of the verb אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי which is Qal Perfect Second Person Feminine Singular with a suffixed pronoun first person singular as the direct object. The clear subject of אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי is the feminine noun קִנְאַ֣ת not "they/គេ"

In Greek the text reads: Ὁ ζῆλος τοῦ οἴκου σου καταφάγεταί με

Here the subject of the verb καταφάγεταί is not quite as clear, but the subject of the verb cannot be translated as "they/គេ" because it is a third person singular verb. In Greek, when a noun is provided that matches a verb in number, it is normal for it to be linked as the subject. ζῆλος is singular and in the nominative form (signaling that it is the subject [Mounce, Basics p. 31), καταφάγεταί is singular a very clear link exists (every major translation makes "zeal" the subject of "consume").

A better translation would be:
«សេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ដល់ដំណាក់ទ្រង់ បានប្រហារជីវិតទូលបង្គំ»
or:
«បំណងប្រាថ្នាដ៏ឆេះឆួលទៅកាន់ដំណាក់ទ្រង់ បានសម្លាប់ចិត្តទូលបង្គំ»

Khmer Greek Interlinear

2008-11-18T04:59:00.001+07:00

A test of a Greek Khmer Interlinear Bible.
This is of 1 Peter 1:6

KCB - Mark 3:6

2006-05-02T09:34:00.000+07:00

The KCB translates Mark 3:6 as follows:

«អ្នកខាងគណៈផារិស៊ីបានចេញទៅភ្លាម ហើយពិគ្រោះជាមួយអ្នកខាងគណៈហេរ៉ូឌ ដើម្បីរកវិធីសម្លាប់ព្រះអង្គ។»

απολεσωσιν in this verse has been translated as សម្លាប់

I think a word closer to the Greek (slightly broader) could be used.

G622

ἀπόλλυμι

apollumi

Thayer Definition:

1) to destroy

1a) to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin

1b) render useless

1c) to kill

1d) to declare that one must be put to death

1e) metaphorically to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell

1f) to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed

2) to destroy

2a) to lose

While “kill” I believe is not far off the meaning here – the Greek word used has other meanings besides just “killing” someone – but in this case I believe it also had to do with the Pharisees wanting not only to kill Jesus but “destroy” His whole following in the process (ruin Him, or destroy Him are words in English that do well).

That being said I suggest the following re-translations:

«អ្នកខាងគណៈផារិស៊ីបានចេញទៅភ្លាម ហើយពិគ្រោះជាមួយអ្នកខាងគណៈហេរ៉ូឌ ដើម្បីរកវិធីធ្វើឲ្យព្រះអង្គវិនាស។»

«អ្នកខាងគណៈផារិស៊ីបានចេញទៅភ្លាម ហើយពិគ្រោះជាមួយអ្នកខាងគណៈហេរ៉ូឌ ដើម្បីរកវិធីកំទេចព្រះអង្គ។»

KCB - Mark 2:28

2006-04-25T11:43:00.000+07:00

The KCB translates: «ដូច្នេះ កូនមនុស្សគឺជាម្ចាស់លើថ្ងៃសប្ប័ទ»

I think through this translation, some of the meaning of the Greek is lost.
Here is a Greek Interlinear to help:

ωστε 5620[SO THEN, ដូច្នេះ] κυριος 2962[LORD, ម្ចាស់] εστιν 2076(5748)[IS, គឺជា] ο 3588 υιος 5207 του 3588[THE SON, កូនប្រុស] ανθρωπου 444[OF MAN, មនុស្ស] και 2532[ALSO, ហើយ] του 3588 σαββατου 4521[THE SABBATH, ថ្ងៃសប្ប័ទ]

Some general info about Greek to help in regards to why I feel that some of the meaning has been lost in the KCB translation of this verse:
1) Due to the linear nature of the Greek language, in general, words at the beginning of a sentence/clause
have more prominence than words at the end.
2) Emphasis in Greek is oftentimes shown by words occurring out of their customary order in relation to
other words in the sentence.

As you can see in the Greek, "κυριος" shows as the second word in the verse – and if you took off "και του σαββατου" (also the Sabbath) the sentence would still be complete and make sense.

But in the KCB translation – you cannot separate, «ថ្ងៃសប្ប័ទ» from the sentence because it would not make sense. I feel like in this verse Jesus is not only stating that He is Lord of the Sabbath but is stating, “I am Lord. And Lord of the Sabbath as well.” (and this translation or separation of being “Lord” and not only the “Lord of the Sabbath” is supported by all the major English translations [the NASB translates it, "So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." using the word, “even” to state He is Lord, and also Lord over the Sabbath).

In this Khmer translation (and the other Khmer Bibles as well) all we can get from this verse is that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath – we don't know if He is Lord over anything else. But in fact, here in this verse, looking at the Greek, Jesus makes a blanket statement and adds on to that blanket statement that the Sabbath is included in that blanket statement – mainly, that He is Lord and also Lord of the Sabbath.

In Khmer I cannot think of any way other than this (adding quite a few extra words), to translate the verse and still keep the same meaning as is in the Greek – but I think if someone else who is more experienced were to take time, they could come up with something better:

«ដូច្នេះ កូនមនុស្សគឺជាម្ចាស់ ហើយជាម្ចាស់លើថ្ងៃសប្ប័ទផងដែរ»

KCB - Mark 2:15

2006-04-21T12:56:00.000+07:00

Mark 2:15

The only thing I would change in this verse is the addition of, "របស់ទ្រង់" in the phrase, "ព្រះយេស៊ូ និងពួកសិស្សដែរ" (it is in the Greek like this, “ιησου 2424[JESUS, ព្រះយេស៊ូ] και 2532 τοις 3588[AND, និង] μαθηταις 3101 αυτου 846[HIS DISCIPLES, ពួកសិស្សរបស់ទ្រង់])

But beyond that, I wanted to take this opportunity to speak about the definition given for the word, "មនុស្សបាប"

I realize, all the Khmer Bible versions translate the word, “αμαρτωλοι [sinners]” here as "មនុស្សបាប"

Some other places in the Old Khmer version it is rendered as "ពួកមានបាប" (James 4:8)

In the Khmer Standard Version, as "អ្នកមានបាប" (Galatians 2:15)

But I think in translating the word differently in each place, some of the meaning is lost – which is shown in what has been said in the definition given by the KCB «មនុស្សបាប» មិនមែនជាអស់អ្នកដែលបានធ្វើបាបសំខានៗទេ ប៉ុន្តែ ជាពពួកមនុស្សដូចជា ពួកអ្នកទារពន្ធដែលពួកមេដឹកនាំសាសនាបានស្អប់ដោយព្រោះការមិនគោរពតាមច្បាប់សាសនារបស់ពួកគេ ជាពិសេសវិន័យដែលហាមឃាត់មិនអោយ បរិភោគអាហារជាមួយពួកសាសន៏ដទៃ។

Which translated into English goes something like: “Sinners” does not mean everyone who has committed some big sin but rather it refers to people such as tax-collectors who the religious leaders hated because the tax-collectors did not follow their religious laws, especially the law that commanded them not to eat with gentiles.

The problem with this definition is that it limits the word to the extent that the reader might start thinking like a Pharisee. This definition is what Pharisees called a “sinner” but not what God defined sinners as. I believe the definition should be changed to say something like, “when the Pharisees and Scribes used the term, “sinners”, it did not mean everyone who had committed some big sin, but rather...”

That way it would not harm the readers understanding of God's perspective – that we all all sinners (a form of the same word in Greek is found in Romans 5:8 which says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”).

I also think that if one word is used for almost all of the instances of ἁμαρτωλός that it would be a major improvement in the Khmer Bible translations.

KCB - Mark 2:8-9

2006-04-20T21:20:00.000+07:00

Mark 2:8-9

៨ «ព្រះអង្គឈ្វេងយល់ក្នុងវិញ្ញាណភ្លាមពីគំនិតគេ ព្រះអង្គក៏មានបន្ទូលទៅកាន់គេថា ៖ «ហេតុអ្វីបានជាអ្នករាល់គ្នាគិតក្នុងចិត្តដូច្នេះ? ៩ តើការដែលនិយាយទៅកាន់អ្នកស្លាប់ដៃជើងថា ៖ «អំពើបាបរបស់អ្នកបានទទួលការលើកលែងទោសហើយ» និងការដែលនិយាយថា ៖ «ចូរក្រោកឡើង យកកន្ទេលអ្នកដើរទៅ» មួយណាស្រួលជាង?»

My only concerns in verse 8 are the words, "ព្រះអង្គ" and the location of, "ភ្លាម"
In the Greek “ιησους” is used (meaning Jesus) but it has been translated as, "ព្រះអង្គ".
I don't feel like there is any reason to do that – I would change it to "ព្រះយេស៊ូ"

Second, the location of "ភ្លាម"
In the Greek verse 8 starts with, “ και 2532 [AND, ហើយ] ευθυς 2117 [IMMEDIATELY, ភ្លាមនោះ]”

In other places where this phrase is at the beginning of a verse the KCB has translated the phrase as “ភ្លាមនោះ" or as “ហើយភ្លាមនោះ" (1:12, 18, 20, 23...) so I am not sure why the translators chose to change their translation in this case (it does not seem any different that any of the other cases, warranting a different translation). Also the in the Greek "ព្រះអង្គ" is not present in the phrase as the translators have translated it, “ព្រះអង្គក៏មានបន្ទូល....”, so I would remove that because I don't feel it takes away from the Khmer, and it allows the translation to better follow the Greek.

I believe putting “ភ្លាមនោះ" at the beginning would not interfere with the Khmer, and also allow the text to be closer to the Greek (also, the way it is right now, it could almost mean that the thought traveled really fast into Jesus' spirit, but if put at the beginning of the sentence it would correctly guide the reader to understand that right after the scribes had those thoughts Jesus knew).

Here is my re-translation of verse 8:

ហើយភ្លាមនោះ ព្រះយេស៊ូបានឈ្វេងយល់ក្នុងវិញ្ញាណរបស់ទ្រង់ពីគំនិតគេ ក៏មានបន្ទូលទៅកាន់គេថា ៖ «ហេតុអ្វីបានជាអ្នករាល់គ្នាគិតក្នុងចិត្តដូច្នេះ?

In verse 9, my concerns are again about sentence order. The way the translation is currently seems top heavy and hard to read. Also, the phrase, "យកកន្ទេលអ្នកដើរទៅ" to me does not sound complete, so I changed the wording, doing my best to follow the Greek as well as get the Khmer correct. To me, it seems as if the question is split in two, so I feel like it should be put at the end to help it be clear in Khmer.

To start, here's a Greek/English Interlinear with Khmer added:

τι 5101[WHICH, តើមួយណា] εστιν 2076(5748)[IS, គឺជា] ευκοπωτερον 2123[EASIER, ស្រួលជាង] ειπειν 2036(5629)[TO SAY, និយាយ] τω 3588[TO THE, ទៅកាន់] παραλυτικω 3885[PARALYTIC, អ្នកស្លាប់ដៃជើង] αφεωνται 863(5769)[HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, បានទទួលការលើកលែងទោសហើយ] σοι 4671 αι 3588[THEE "THY", អ្នក] αμαρτιαι 266[SINS, អំពើបាប] η 2228[OR, ឬ] ειπειν 2036(5629)[TO SAY, និយាយ] εγειραι 1453(5669)[ARISE, ក្រោកឡើង] και 2532[AND, ហើយ] αρον 142(5657)[TAKE UP, ស្រវា] σου 4675 τον 3588[THY, របស់អ្នក] κραββατον 2895[COUCH, កន្ទេល] και 2532[AND, ហើយ] περιπατει 4043(5720)[WALK?, ដើរ?]

Here is my re-translation (putting the question at the end, in order to keep things clear in Khmer):

ការនិយាយទៅកាន់អ្នកស្លាប់ដៃជើងថា ៖ «អំពើបាបរបស់អ្នកបានទទួលការលើកលែងទោសហើយ» ឬនិយាយថា ៖ «ចូរក្រោកឡើង យកកន្ទេលរបស់អ្នក ហើយដើរទៅ» តើមួយណាងាយស្រួលនិយាយជាង?

KCB - Mark 2:4

2006-04-20T12:57:00.000+07:00

Mark 2:4

The KCB translates Mark 2:4 as follows, «ប៉ុន្តែដោយសារមានមនុស្សច្រើនកកកុញពេក គេមិនអាចនាំមនុស្សស្លាប់ដៃជើងនោះទៅខាងក្នុងបានទេ គេក៏រើដំបូលចំកន្លែងដែលព្រះអង្គនៅ លុះបានរើហើយ ក៏សំរូតមនុស្សស្លាប់ដៃជើងដែលកំពុងដេកលើកន្ទេលនោះចុះ»

In this verse there are words that are left out and added words (I put them in italics) that could be changed to be more faithful to the Greek.

Here is a Greek/English Interlinear with Khmer added to help:

και 2532[AND, ហើយ] μη 3361[NOT, មិន] δυναμενοι 1410(5740)[BEING ABLE, អាច] προσεγγισαι 4331(5658)[TO COME NEAR, ទៅដល់] αυτω 846[TO HIM, ព្រះអង្គ] δια 1223[ON ACCOUNT OF, ដោយសារ] τον 3588 οχλον 3793[THE CROWD, ហ្វូងមនុស្សនោះ] απεστεγασαν 648(5656)[THEY UNCOVERED, គេបានបើក] την 3588στεγην 4721[THE ROOF, ដំបូល] οπου 3699[WHERE, នៅកន្លែង] ην 2258(5713)[HE WAS, ព្រះអង្គគង់] και 2532[AND, ហើយ] εξορυξαντες 1846(5660)[HAVING BROKEN UP "IT", បានបែកហើយ] χαλωσιν 5465(5719)[THEY LET DOWN, សំរូត] τον 3588 κραββατον 2895[THE COUCH, កន្ទេល] εφ 1909[ON, នៅលើ] ω 3739[WHICH, ដែល] ο 3588 παραλυτικος 3885[THE PARALYTIC, មនុស្សស្លាប់ដៃជើង] κατεκειτο 2621(5711)[WAS LYING, ដេក]

As you can see, in the Greek there is no, "ទៅខាងក្នុងបានទេ" but rather something like, "ទៅដល់ព្រះអង្គបានទេ"

If we were to translate in a strict way, it might come out something like this (added words in italics):

«ហើយគេមិនអាចទៅដល់ព្រះអង្គដោយសារហ្វូងមនុស្សនោះ ដូច្នេះគេបានបើកដំបូលនៅកន្លែងដែលព្រះអង្គគង់ លុះបានបែកហើយ គេសំរូតកន្ទេលដែលមនុស្សស្លាប់ដៃជើងដេកនៅលើចុះ»

Though my translation of this verse is quite rough – it is just to say that I believe this passage can be more faithful to the Greek than it currently is.

Any comments or thoughts?

KSV (Khmer Standard Version)

2006-04-19T07:47:00.000+07:00

The newest Khmer Bible translation - it is the Protestant edition of Today's Khmer Version Bible. This new edition has been renamed the Khmer Standard Version.

KCB - Mark 1:45

2006-03-29T12:55:00.000+07:00

KCB translates Mark 1:45 as follows:

«ប៉ុន្តែ បុរសនោះបានចេញទៅ រួចក៏ចាប់ផ្តើមប្រកាសពីកិច្ចការជាច្រើន និងបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយអំពីរឿងនេះ ដូច្នេះហើយព្រះអង្គក៏មិនអាចយាងចូលទៅក្នុងក្រុងដោយចំហបានទៀតឡើយ ប៉ុន្តែព្រះអង្គគង់នៅខាងក្រៅក្រុងត្រង់កន្លែងស្ងាត់ៗ ហើយមនុស្សម្នាពីគ្រប់ទិសទីបានមករកព្រះអង្គ។»

I felt like this translation deviated from the original Greek farther than most of the passages in the KCB and also caused a couple of things to be unclear in the Khmer.

Here is a Greek Interlinear (with Khmer added) to help:

ο 3588 δε 1161[BUT HE, ប៉ុន្តែគាត់] εξελθων 1831(5631)[HAVING GONE OUT, បានចេញទៅ] ηρξατο 756(5662)[BEGAN, ចាប់ផ្តើម] κηρυσσειν 2784(5721)[TO PROCLAIM "IT", ប្រកាស “វា”] πολλα 4183[MUCH, ច្រើន] και 2532[AND, ហើយ] διαφημιζειν 1310(5721)[TO SPREAD ABROAD, ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ] τον 3588[THE] λογον 3056[MATTER, រឿង] ωστε 5620[SO THAT, ដូច្នេះហើយ] μηκετι 3371[NO LONGER, មិនបានទៀតឡើយ ] αυτον 846[HE, ទ្រង់] δυνασθαι 1410(5738)[WAS ABLE, អាច] φανερως 5320[OPENLY, ដោយចំហ] εις 1519[INTO "THE",ទៅក្នុង] πολιν 4172[CITY, ក្រុង] εισελθειν 1525(5629)[TO ENTER;, យាងចូល] αλλ 235[BUT, ប៉ុន្តែ] εξω 1854[OUTSIDE, ខាងក្រៅ] εν 1722[IN, នៅក្នុង] ερημοις 2048[DESERTED, រហោ] τοποις 5117[PLACES, ឋាន] ην 2258(5713)[WAS, នៅ] και 2532[AND, ហើយ] ηρχοντο 2064(5711)[THEY CAME, គេបានមក] προς 4314[TO, ដល់] αυτον 846[HIM, ទ្រង់] πανταχοθεν 3836[FROM EVERY QUARTER, ពីគ្រប់ទិសទី]

And here is a list of changes that I feel should be made:

1) "ប្រកាសពីកិច្ចការជាច្រើន" – I feel there is no reason to add "ពីកិច្ចការ" being that there is no equivelent in the Greek, and that it does not help the Khmer to come out more clear (in both cases, with "ពីកិច្ចការ" being included and without it, the question would still arise in the reader's mind, “What did he proclaim, what work did he proclaim?” which I believe is not a problem (nor does Khmer grammar demand it that I know of), they only need to read farther in the verse to find out, as a reader of the Greek would have to do. English translations normally add the word “it” here but I don't think it is needed in the Khmer, and therefore can better follow the Greek than English allows.

2) "និងបាន" I don't think there is a need to use "បាន" here again being that it was already used in the beginning of the verse, "បានចេញទៅ" and by not using it again it better follows the Greek.

3) "អំពីរឿងនេះ" The author is now speaking outside the story; the event (story) had already taken place (not like the quote from Jesus which uses "នេះ" when He refers to the event) and so I believe this should be translated as, "អំពីរឿងនោះ"

4) "ដូច្នេះហើយ" – I don't believe this translation is the best choice in the context for the word, “ωστε” - this is a minor issue, but I feel like the phrase, "រហូតទាល់តែ" is a better reading (an English equivalent might be something like, “to such an extent that”

5) "ព្រះអង្គគង់នៅ" - The KCB chose to translate, “ην” to include "ព្រះអង្គ" but again I don't see this as a necessary addition, being that in Khmer it is understood that it was Jesus who “was there”.

6) "គង់នៅខាងក្រៅក្រុង" – The word "ក្រុង" is not in the Greek, nor do I feel it is needed in order to make the translation clear – I suggest the following translation with the addition of "បាន" to ensure readability: "បានគង់នៅខាងក្រៅ"

7) "ត្រង់កន្លែងស្ងាត់ៗ" - This is minor but I feel a better translation of, “ερημοις τοποις” would be, "រហោឋាន" though the meaning of the phrase in the KCB is very close with this alternate translation.

8) "មនុស្សម្នា" - the addition of "ម្នា" I think should be removed being that in the Greek there is no specifier as to what “type” of people were coming to Christ (the word "ម្នា" modifies the word “មនុស្ស" [people] and makes it out to be only common people, but most likely there were rich people as well).

9) "មនុស្សម្នាពីគ្រប់ទិសទី" - I believe the phrase, "ពីគ្រប់ទិសទី" can and should be moved to the end of the verse in order to better follow the Greek word order.

10) "បានមករកព្រះអង្គ" – I believe this translation lends itself to be misunderstood. Did the people only search/look for Jesus or did they find Him? I suggest the following re-translation in order to remove any confusion (being that the Greek clearly states they “ηρχοντο” [came] to Jesus: "បានមកឯព្រះអង្គ"

A side note is the KCB's usage of the word "ព្រះអង្គ". I do not fully understand why it is used so frequently when a word like ទ្រង់ could be used (and to me, that word seems more “natural”). Anyone have some insight into the reasons behind this?

Putting all these suggestions together – I believe the translation should be something like this:

«ប៉ុន្តែ បុរសនោះបានចេញទៅ រួចក៏ចាប់ផ្តើមប្រកាសជាច្រើន និងផ្សព្វផ្សាយអំពីរឿងនោះ រហូតទាល់តែព្រះអង្គមិនអាចយាងចូលទៅក្នុងក្រុងដោយចំហបានទៀតឡើយ ប៉ុន្តែបានគង់នៅខាងក្រៅ ត្រង់ទីរហោឋាន ហើយមនុស្សបានមកឯព្រះអង្គពីគ្រប់ទិសទី។»

KCB - Mark 1:44

2006-03-29T12:21:00.000+07:00

KCB – Mark 1:44

«ចូរប្រយ័ត្ន កុំនិយាយរឿងនេះប្រាប់អ្នកណាអោយសោះ ប៉ុន្តែត្រូវទៅបង្ហាញខ្លួនដល់សង្ឃ ហើយថ្វាយតង្វាយសម្រាប់ការដែលអ្នកបានជាស្អាត ដូចលោកម៉ូសេបានបង្គាប់ ដើម្បីជាបន្ទាល់ដល់មនុស្សទាំងឡាយ»។

I believe this text is more difficult than others (as far as keeping the Khmer in order with the Greek, mainly because of grammar differences in both languages), but I do feel there are some things that can be changed in order to better follow the Greek as well as help make things clear in Khmer.

Here is a Greek Interlinear to help (Khmer added):

και 2532[AND, ហើយ] λεγει 3004(5719)[SAYS, មានបន្ទូលថា] αυτω 846[TO HIM, ទៅគាត់] ορα 3708(5720)[BEWARE, ចូរប្រយ័ត្ន] μηδενι 3367[TO NO ONE, ទៅនរណាម្នាក់ឲ្យសោះ] μηδεν 3367[ANYTHING(LIT. NOTHING), អ្វីមួយ] ειπης 2036(5632)[THOU SPEAK; និយាយ] αλλ 235[BUT, ប៉ុន្តែ] υπαγε 5217(5720)[GO, ទៅ] σεαυτον 4572[THYSELF, ខ្លួនឯង] δειξον 1166(5657)[SHEW, បង្ហាញ] τω 3588[TO THE, ទៅ] ιερει 2409[PRIEST, សង្ឃ] και 2532[AND, ហើយ] προσενεγκε 4374(5628)[OFFER, ថ្វាយ] περι 4012 του 3588[FOR, សម្រាប់] καθαρισμου 2512 σου 4675[THY CLEANSING, ការដែលអ្នកបានជាស្អាត] α 3739[WHAT, អ្វី] προσεταξεν 4367(5656)[ORDERED, បានបង្គាប់] μωσης 3475[MOSES, លោកម៉ូសេ] εις 1519[FOR THE RESULT OF, ដើម្បី] μαρτυριον 3142[A TESTIMONY, បន្ទាល់] αυτοις 846[TO THEM, ដល់គេ]

Here are some suggestions along with some problems that I see:

1) "ប៉ុន្តែត្រូវទៅ" - I don't see any need for "ត្រូវ" to be in this phrase, being that it is already a statement of what the man needs to do – but this is minor.

2) "ថ្វាយតង្វាយ" – The Khmer here does not wholly follow the Greek (being that the word, “α” does not show up as being directly translated [literally it means, “what” [អ្វី]). But I feel that the KCB has done a good translation of the Greek into the Khmer, being that a more direct translation causes more confusion, and should stay as it is (one could translate it, "ថ្វាយអ្វីដែលលោកម៉ូសេបានបង្គាប់" but I do not think either one is better than the other, probably about the same).

3) "ដល់មនុស្សទាំងឡាយ" – To me this seems a clumsy translation of the word, “αυτοις” – I would suggest this instead: "ដល់គេ" or "ដល់ពួកគេ"

Here is a suggested re-translation:

«ចូរប្រយ័ត្ន កុំនិយាយរឿងនេះប្រាប់អ្នកណាអោយសោះ ប៉ុន្តែទៅបង្ហាញខ្លួនដល់សង្ឃ ហើយថ្វាយតង្វាយសម្រាប់ការដែលអ្នកបានជាស្អាត ដូចលោកម៉ូសេបានបង្គាប់ ដើម្បីជាបន្ទាល់ដល់គេ»។

KCB – Mark 1:30

2006-03-27T16:08:00.000+07:00

KCB – Mark 1:30 “កាលម្តាយក្មេកលោកស៊ីម៉ូនកំពុងតែដេកគ្រុនគេក៏ទូលព្រះអង្គភ្លាមថា គាត់ឈឺ”
I see just a few slight problems in this verse, the first being the phrase, “គាត់ឈឺ”

In the Greek it is not elaborated that they told Jesus “she was sick” but rather, they told Jesus “about her”.

To help here is a Greek interlinear (Khmer added):
η 3588 δε 1161[AND THE, ហើយ] πενθερα 3994[MOTHER - IN – LAW, ម្តាយក្មេក] σιμωνος 4613[OF SIMON, របស់លោកស៊ីម៉ូន ] κατεκειτο 2621(5711)[WAS LYING, កំពុងតែដេក] πυρεσσουσα 4445(5723)[IN A FEVER, គ្រុន] και 2532[AND,ហើយ] ευθεως 2112[IMMEDIATELY, ភ្លាម] λεγουσιν 3004(5719)[THEY TELL, គេនិយាយ] αυτω 846[HIM, ទ្រង់] περι 4012[ABOUT, អំពី] αυτης 846[HER, គាត់]

I believe the most straight forward translation would be as follows:
“កាលម្តាយក្មេកលោកស៊ីម៉ូនកំពុងតែដេកគ្រុនគេក៏ទូលព្រះអង្គភ្លាមអំពីគាត់”

I might go even farther, in order to follow the Greek even more closely by translating the verse like this:

"ម្តាយក្មេកលោកស៊ីម៉ូនកំពុងតែដេកគ្រុន ហើយភ្លាមនោះគេក៏ទូលព្រះអង្គអំពីគាត់"

or like this:

"កាលនោះម្តាយក្មេកលោកស៊ីម៉ូនកំពុងតែដេកគ្រុន ហើយភ្លាមនោះគេក៏ទូលព្រះអង្គអំពីគាត់"

KCB – Mark 1:23-24a

2006-03-27T14:48:00.000+07:00

The KCB translates Mark 1:23-24 as follows:

«^២៣ហើយភ្លាមនោះ នៅក្នុងសាលាប្រជុំ មានបុរសម្នាក់មានវិញ្ញាណអាក្រក់ចូល ^២៤ ស្រែកឡើងថា...»

In reading this I believe there might be confusion as to what exactly has happened. Did a man with an evil spirit just come into the synagogue or did an evil spirit just enter a man who was in the synagogue? Did the evil spirit just enter him right then, or had he had the evil spirit in him for a long time?

Also, the separation of the verses here does not follow normal verse breakage in English versions (or the Greek versions that I have). Personally I feel that following an international standard is important if only for the sake of working with both Khmer and English (or another language) Bibles – so when someone speaks and is translated, the verse he requests to be read will have the same content as his own Bible. I suggest following the Greek by placing "ស្រែកឡើង" in verse 23 and "ថា" in verse 24 (being the translation of the Greek the word "λεγων").

Does anyone know why sometimes verses have been changed in some Khmer Bible versions (the KCB and the TKV)?

Also the Greek word “αυτων” (Strong's 846) was not translated but I believe it should be, making "សាលាប្រជុំ" to be "សាលាប្រជុំរបស់គេ"

In order to take away any confusion I suggest something like this (I think the confusion mainly comes about because of "ហើយភ្លាមនោះ" at the beginning of the verse, being that it might be connected with the word "ចូល" so the suggested translation does not use the word "ចូល" so that the sentence and meaning would be clear as well as follow the Greek word "εν"):

«^២៣ហើយភ្លាមនោះ នៅក្នុងសាលាប្រជុំរបស់គេ មានបុរសម្នាក់ដែលមានវិញ្ញាណអាក្រក់នៅក្នុងខ្លួនគាត់ស្រែកឡើង^២៤ថា...»

Or if wanting to use the word "ចូល" possibly this way would take away any confusion:

«^២៣ហើយភ្លាមនោះ នៅក្នុងសាលាប្រជុំរបស់គេ មានបុរសម្នាក់ដែលមានវិញ្ញាណអាក្រក់ចូលគាត់ស្រែកឡើង^២៤ថា...»

KOV - 2 Timothy 3:16a

2006-03-25T21:16:00.000+07:00

In the KOV 2 Timothy 3:16a is translated: “គ្រប់ទាំងបទគម្ពីរ គឺជាព្រះទ្រង់បានបញ្ចេញព្រះវិញ្ញាណបណ្តាលឲ្យតែងទេ...”

I believe the KOV is not wholly accurate in its translation of “θεοπνευστος” in this verse.

Here is a interlinear Greek/English text (with Khmer added) of the first part of verse 16:

πασα 3956[EVERY, ទាំងងស់] γραφη 1124[SCRIPTURE "IS", បតគម្ពីរ "គឺជា"] θεοπνευστος 2315[GOD-BREATHED, ផ្លុំដោយព្រះ]

The Greek word “θεοπνευστος” (only used once in the New Testament) is the main focus of this post – the word comes from “Θεός” [God, ព្រះ] and πνέω [to breathe, to breathe out, ដកដង្ហើម, ដង្ហើមចេញ]

The word “θεοπνευστος” brings with it the idea of, “breathing upon, or breathing into the soul,” is that which the word naturally conveys. Thus, God breathed into the nostrils of Adam the breath of life Gen_2:7, and thus the Saviour breathed on his disciples, and said, “receive ye the Holy Ghost;” Joh_20:22. The idea seems to have been, that the life was in the breath, and that an intelligent spirit was communicated with the breath.” [quoted from Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible]

Rather than saying (literal translation of the Khmer), “All Scripture, is God forced out the Spirit to cause to create”

I believe this might be a better translation (I favor the first translation being that it better follows the word order of the Greek:
“គ្រប់ទាំងបទគម្ពីរ បានដង្ហើមចេញដោយព្រះ...”
or
“គ្រប់ទាំងបទគម្ពីរ ព្រះបានដង្ហើមចេញ...”
or
“ព្រះបានដង្ហើមចេញគ្រប់ទាំងបទគម្ពីរ...”

I removed the "គឺជា" that the KOV had placed in this verse being that there is no equivalent in the Greek in this verse (that's why “is” is in quotes in the interlinear, because the Greek doesn't have it) and it didn't sound like it was needed for the Khmer. Does anyone think it would be better left in? And if so, where?

TKV - 2 Corinthians 12:7

2006-03-23T18:01:00.000+07:00

The TKV translates 2 Corinthians 12:7 as: "ព្រះជាម្ចាស់បានដាក់បន្លាមួយក្នុងរូបកាយខ្ញុំ ដើម្បីកុំអោយខ្ញុំអួតខ្លួន ព្រោះតែការអស្ចារ្យដ៏ប្រសើរបំផុត ដែលព្រះអង្គបានសំដែងអោយខ្ញុំឃើញ គឺដូចជាមានតំណាងរបស់មារសាតាំងមកធ្វើទារុណកម្មខ្ញុំ កុំអោយខ្ញុំអួតខ្លួនបានឡើយ។"

1) "ការអស្ចារ្យដ៏ប្រសើរបំផុត ដែលព្រះអង្គបានសំដែងអោយខ្ញុំឃើញ" – There are a couple of problems with this part of the translation. First – the Greek never says that God gave this revelation (though we know He did because of the previous verses) nor do any of the loose paraphrases in English include this extra “explanation” phrase (not even the Message, which translates: “Because of the extravagance of those revelations”). I think this extra phrase could be avoided just by referring the reader back to the explanation in the previous verses with the word "នោះ". Second, the translation of the word, “αποκαλυψεων” (revelations in most English Bibles – also meaning from Strong's Greek Dictionary: uncovering, laying bare, disclosure, manifestation, be revealed). I believe, "ការបើកសំដែង" is a much better word, and easily understood without needing any of the extras that have been put into this verse.

2) "គឺដូចជា" - This is the major problem area in this verse being that it leads the reader to believe that the amazing thing that God has shown Paul (or the amazing revelation) is that one of Satan's representatives ( តំណាង ) has come to Paul to torture ( ធ្វើទារុណកម្ម ) him. This is not what the text says. The reason the messenger of Satan came was because of the greatness of those revelations – it itself was not the revelation! The confusion comes from the placement of this phrase: "គឺដូចជាមានតំណាងរបស់មារសាតាំងមកធ្វើទារុណកម្មខ្ញុំ". I believe if the phrase is moved up to be right after the phrase about the thorn (បន្លា) then there will be no confusion.

3) "ដូចជាមាន" - I believe this allows the text to lead the reader to think it might have been something other than a messenger from Satan – the text says it was (though the outward expression of that messenger could have been many things) so I think this phrase should be removed for the sake of clarity. The Greek reads like this: αγγελος [A MESSENGER] σαταν [OF SATAN,] - there is no word that should be translated as “like having” or “as if having”.

Here is my re-translation:
"ដើម្បីកុំអោយខ្ញុំអួតខ្លួន ព្រោះតែការបើកសំដែងដ៏ប្រសើរបំផុតនោះ ព្រះជាម្ចាស់បានដាក់បន្លាមួយក្នុងរូបកាយខ្ញុំ គឺជាតំណាងរបស់មារសាតាំងមកធ្វើទារុណកម្មខ្ញុំ កុំអោយខ្ញុំអួតខ្លួនបានឡើយ។"

TKV - Ephesians 2:8

2006-03-22T09:34:00.000+07:00

The TKV translates: "ព្រះអង្គសង្គ្រោះបងប្អូនមកពីព្រះអង្គមានព្រះហឫទ័យប្រណីសន្តោសដោយសារបងប្អូនមានជំនឿ។ ការសង្រ្គោះមិនមែនមកពីបងប្អូនទេ គឺជាព្រះអំណោយទានរបស់ព្រះជាម្ចាស់"

I believe this translation has major problems, being in that there are possessive and descriptive words in the Khmer that are not in the original Greek.

I will do my best to work through the verse systematically as I see problems.

1) "ព្រះអង្គសង្គ្រោះបងប្អូន" - this word might be confused to mean "your Savior" rather than "God saved you".

2) "មកពីព្រះអង្គមានព្រះហឫទ័យប្រណីសន្តោស" I understand this version is trying to keep things simple, I will only say I don't think this is a good translation of the word "χάρις" - but more on that in the future (or maybe someone else has thoughts on this?)

3) "ដោយសារបងប្អូនមានជំនឿ" I would say this is one of the major parts of the problem in this verse. In the Greek "πιστεως" [faith in most English Bibles] does not belong to a person or is not possessed by the person - it is just "faith" by itself, no one with it.

4) "ការសង្រ្គោះមិនមែនមកពីបងប្អូនទេ" Again, major problems because the text does not say "Salvation does not come from you" rather it says "και 2532[AND] τουτο 5124[THIS] ουκ 3756[NOT] εξ 1537[OF] υμων 5216[YOURSELVES]"

The word "τουτο" in Greek refers back to the whole previous clause "For by grace you have been saved through faith" not only to "σεσωσμενοι" [most translate as "saved"].

I believe by inserting "ការសង្រ្គោះ" the translation has gone too far outside the original Greek text and limits its meaning.

So with all this being said I suggest the following re-translation (in keeping with the philosophy of the TKV translators, I will leave most of it as they have translated):

"ព្រះអង្គបានសង្គ្រោះបងប្អូនមកពីព្រះអង្គមានព្រះហឫទ័យប្រណីសន្តោសដោយសារជំនឿ ហើយការនេះក៏មិនមែនមកពីបងប្អូនទេ គឺជាព្រះអំណោយទានរបស់ព្រះជាម្ចាស់"

If you have additional thoughts - please feel free to comment.

KCB (Khmer Christian Bible)

2006-03-20T21:58:00.000+07:00

About the KCB:

"The KCB is a new Bible translation which is seeking to have a more literal Bible translation which is very clear and understandable in the Khmer language to rural Cambodians who make up a majority of the people, as well as Christians, in Cambodia. The KCB translation team desires to have a translation process which is open and transparent so that believers can have the freedom to be actively involved in the translation, reviewing and editing process. The Bible is being translated from the original languages, yet considering previous translations in Khmer as well as referencing numerous English, Japanese, Chinese and Thai translations. Great effort is being made to ensure that the Khmer grammar and spelling are correct and reflect the meaning of the original languages. The translation is being sponsored by the Asia Bible Society (based in Japan). Along with the KSB Bible, an interlinear Khmer-Greek Bible is being formulated as well as a full Khmer concordance of the Bible and Bible dictionary which match the KCB translation."

KOV (Khmer Old Version)

2006-03-20T21:55:00.000+07:00

About the KOV:

"In 1923 a systematic translation of the Bible into Khmer was begun by a Christian and Missionary Alliance missionary from the United States, the Rev Arthur L Hammond. The translation of the whole Bible took many years until, in 1954, the first Khmer Bible was published." (taken in part from http://www.biblecambodia.org/dedication.dsp)

TKV (Today's Khmer Version)

2006-03-20T21:49:00.000+07:00

About the TKV:

"The recently-released Khmer Common Language Bible (New Version) is very easy to understand and much appreciated by young people, though some very conservative Christian groups do not yet accept it. We are thankful to God that even though we face problems, the Bible Society is becoming more accepted by many congregations. We praise the Lord and pray that he will bless us in the coming year." (taken from http://www.biblecambodia.org/AnnualReports.dsp)

KOV - Luke 6:48

2006-03-20T11:13:00.000+07:00

In the old Khmer Bible: "គឺធៀបដូចជាមនុស្ស ម្នាក់ដែលសង់ផ្ទះ គាត់បានជីកយ៉ាងជ្រៅ ដាក់ជើងសសរនៅលើថ្ម កាលមានទឹកជន់ឡើង ហូរគំហុកមកប៉ះនឹងផ្ទះនោះ នោះធ្វើឲ្យរញ្ជួយមិនបានឡើយ ពីព្រោះបានសង់នៅលើថ្ម"

The word I want to focus on is"ជើងសសរ"

The word choice here seems strange, being that in just about all the other places I checked, the Greek word, "θεμέλιος" is translated as, "ជើងជញ្ជាំង"

Most likely the translators were thinking about how a house is built in Cambodia and chose their words based on that - but houses were not on stilts in Jewish society when Jesus on the earth - they were more like a ផ្ទះល្វែង
I think the word, "គ្រឹះ" would be a better choice in all of the cases (actually the new translation uses this word) - even on a house that is in stilts (pillars) most of the time they put rocks and things under the ជើងសសរ in order to make sure it is sturdy - and they call that "គ្រឹះ"

And the word even is used in the same way the English word "foundation" is used: គ្រឹះយុត្ដិធម៌ the foundation of justice គ្រឹះសន្តិភាព the foundation of peace

Another reason for this is the usage of the word សសរ in other passages of scripture like 1 Timothy 3:15 (that might be another issue to talk about, the word, "support" or "εδραιωμα" which has been translated as, "ជើងថ្កល់"

KOV - John 3:16

2006-03-19T14:50:00.000+07:00

In the Khmer Old Version (and I believe the new translation also has this same problem, though it is translated slightly different than the following. If I recall it uses, "ច្រើនណាស់" instead of "ដល់ម៉្លេះ"), "ដ្បិតព្រះទ្រង់ស្រឡាញ់មនុស្សលោក ដល់ម៉្លេះបានជាទ្រង់ប្រទានព្រះរាជបុត្រាទ្រង់តែ ១ ដើម្បីឲ្យអ្នកណាដែលជឿដល់ព្រះរាជបុត្រានោះ មិនត្រូវវិនាសឡើយ គឺឲ្យមានជីវិតអស់កាល្បជានិច្ចវិញ"

Actually I believe this translation came from a misunderstanding of the English word, "so". In many English versions John 3:16 reads something like, "For God so loved the world..." The Greek word here, "ουτως", was translated as "so" with a meaning that is now rarely used, but is a correct usage of "so" which means: in the way indicated; "hold the brush so"

Most people think of "so" as, "For God loved the word so much that He..."

But actually the word "so" or the Greek word, "ουτως" in this case does not mean "To a great extent; to such an evident degree" nor does it have the same meaning as the old Khmer Bible has it "ដល់ម្ល៉េះ" but actually means, "in this way, in like manner"

So the Holman Christian Standard Bible translates it (I believe correctly): "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

We can see a similarity with other passages in the Bible such as Romans 5:8 - "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

The same translation problem exists in 1 John 4:11 which also uses ម៉្លេះ

I suggest a translation something like this (This is a personal translation, please forgive my ខ្មែរ - if you have a better suggestion please post it): "ដ្បិតព្រះបានស្រឡាញ់មនុស្សលោកយ៉ាងនេះ ថាទ្រង់ប្រទានព្រះរាជបុត្រាតែ ១ របស់ទ្រង់ ដើម្បីឲ្យអស់អ្នកណាដែលជឿក្នុងទ្រង់មិនវិនាសឡើយ ប៉ុន្តែមានជីវិតអស់កាល្បជានិច្ច"

Thoughts?

The Purpose

2006-03-19T14:01:00.000+07:00

The purpose of this blog is not to criticize the efforts of Bible translators who have worked on translating the Bible into Khmer. Rather this blog exists to provide a place to discuss translation problems and suggest improvements. Comments on this blog are welcome just remember to follow the guidelines.

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