The World English Bible (WEB) stands out as a modern, accessible translation of the Bible designed to be freely available to anyone who seeks to read and understand the Scriptures in contemporary English. It represents a significant shift in making the Bible accessible to all without the restrictions typically imposed by copyright laws. Here’s a detailed look into the WEB, its motivations, and its unique characteristics.
Why Another English Translation?
The existence of numerous English translations of the Bible is well acknowledged. However, many of these translations suffer from issues such as outdated language or restrictive copyright laws. Traditional translations like the King James Version (KJV) and the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901, though respected, use archaic language that can be difficult for modern readers to understand. On the other hand, translations like the New International Version (NIV) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB) are under copyright protection, limiting their free distribution and usage.
The WEB addresses this gap by offering a complete translation of the Bible in modern English that is free from copyright constraints. This enables unrestricted copying and sharing, which is particularly valuable for educational, evangelistic, and personal study purposes.
The Importance of Copyright
Copyright laws are designed to protect the interests of authors and translators by granting them exclusive rights to their works. While this system ensures that creators are compensated for their efforts, it also restricts the distribution of their work, which can be a significant barrier when it comes to widespread dissemination of the Bible.
By placing the WEB in the public domain, its creators aim to liberate one modern English translation from these restrictions. This approach aligns with the goal of making the Bible widely accessible without the burden of copyright limitations.
The WEB Revision Process
The WEB is a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901, which itself is in the public domain. This revision process began with converting approximately 1,000 archaic words and phrases to modern equivalents using custom software. The subsequent phases involved meticulous manual editing and proofreading:
- First Pass: Conversion of archaic language to contemporary usage.
- Second to Seventh Passes: Manual editing, punctuation updates, and comparisons with the original Hebrew and Greek texts.
This thorough revision process ensures that the translation is both accurate and understandable while maintaining the integrity of the original ASV.
Who’s Behind the WEB?
The World English Bible project is spearheaded by Rainbow Missions, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Colorado, along with numerous volunteers. Rainbow Missions is named after the rainbow, symbolizing God’s covenant with Noah. The team behind the WEB includes over 50 Evangelical scholars from the ASV project and additional scholars who have contributed to the development of accurate Hebrew and Greek texts.
Translation Philosophy
The philosophy behind the WEB includes several key principles:
- Prayer and Inspiration: The translation process is conducted with prayer for divine guidance and inspiration.
- Accuracy and Reliability: The translation aims to be faithful to the original texts and accurate in its rendering.
- Understandability: It seeks to be clear to a broad English-speaking audience, avoiding locale-specific idioms.
- Public Domain: The WEB is freely available, reflecting a commitment to accessibility.
- Respect and Tradition: The translation retains many features of the 1901 ASV, including the use of lowercase pronouns for God and a focus on using “Yahweh” for God’s name in the Old Testament.
Balancing Translation Challenges
Translation is a complex task involving balancing various goals:
- Meaning Preservation: Ensuring that the meaning of each thought or sentence is accurately conveyed.
- Word and Style: Retaining the impact, tone, and style of the original texts.
- Target Language Faithfulness: Adapting the translation to be faithful to modern English while respecting the original’s nuances.
The WEB strives to balance these factors, borrowing from both formal and dynamic equivalence approaches to achieve a translation that is both accurate and readable.
Comparison with Other Translations
The WEB shares similarities with the ASV of 1901 but stands out due to its modern language and public domain status. It avoids copyright infringement while remaining true to the spirit of the original ASV. Unlike some translations that capitalize pronouns related to God, the WEB follows the ASV tradition of not capitalizing these pronouns and uses “Yahweh” for God’s name in the Old Testament, reflecting recent scholarly consensus.
Conclusion
The World English Bible is a significant contribution to biblical translation, offering a modern, accessible version of the Scriptures that is free from copyright restrictions. By building on the American Standard Version and employing a careful revision process, the WEB aims to provide a translation that is both accurate and comprehensible, making the Bible available to a wide audience in a format that respects its original context while embracing contemporary language.