Bible Translation as Missions

JBTM Dave Brunn13weighed their options regarding the difference between “the soles of their feet” or simply “theirfeet.” If you look at the context of this passage, you’ll see why I would say I prefer the NASB’srendering, because the passage is talking about a calf. It’s saying that their feet were like thesoles of a calf’s foot, which is what these versions say. And I’m not sure that I would describe acalf’s hoof as a foot, nor as having a sole.Omissions in the“Most Literal Version”Ezekiel 1:7Hebrew: “the soles of their feet”»»NKJV: “the soles of their feet”»»ESV: “the soles of their feet”»»NASB: “ -- their feet”Likewise, with Ezekiel 1:13, the NASB translators had to determine the difference betweensaying something looked “like torches” or “like the appearance of torches.” I guess there isn’treally a difference, so the NASB translators—I’m not saying they did something wrong here;I don’t think they did—decided that word-for-word translation allows us to let some of thewords drop out. We don’t necessarily have to reflect every single word. When they did this, I’mpositive they did it with full assurance in their hearts that they were not violating the profoundwording in Revelation 22:18–19 against adding to or taking away from the words, the logos, ofScripture.Omissions in the“Most Literal Version”Ezekiel 1:13Hebrew: “like the appearance of torches”»»NKJV: “like the appearance of torches”»»ESV: “like the appearance of torches”»»NASB: “ -- torches”