Musings -- A Continuing Series of Comments on Specific Translation Issues within the International Standard Version New Testament

by Dr. David Alan Black

"So great is the force of established usage that even acknowledged corruptions please the greater part, for they prefer to have their copies pretty rather than accurate."

Jerome

Dr. David Alan Black
Associate Editor, ISV NT

Alliteration in the Bible?

As you are already aware, I am addicted to alliteration, a slave to sequential syllables starting with the same sound. Pretty please, don’t take me to task, raise the roof, and add fuel to the fire or insult to injury when I tell you that the apt art of alliteration occurs in the Bible.

For example, the Greek of Hebrews 1:1 reads as follows:

polumeros kai polutropos palai ho theos lalesas tois patrasin en tois prophetais….

Can you hear the alliteration with the letter "p"? Far from being a bunch of baloney that you need like a hole in the head, this phenomenon is first and foremost and sure as shootin’ a worthwhile, short-and-sweet, clear-cut expression.

The ISV translators felt this was fantastic and bent over backwards to practice what they preach:

God, having spoken in former times in fragmentary fashion to our forefathers by the prophets….

Leapin’ lizards, I bet my bottom dollar that you, too, are becoming an alliteration addict!