kata ta biblia

a blog exploring Christian origins, biblical studies, social/cultural history, method, education and the journey through academia

"The accuser of our comrades"?

Don’t get me wrong, I like the NRSV for the most part, and I am a huge advocate for inclusive language. But the NRSV does get a little out of hand in their translation of ἀδελφῶν (adelphōn) from time to time. Take Revelation 12:10 for instance:

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Messiah,b
for the accuser of our comradesc has been thrown down,
who accuses them day and night before our God.”

b Gk Christ
c Gk brothers

They do the same thing in Rev 19:10 and 22:9. I can understand when they go with “kindred” or “people” or even “beloved,” but “comrades”? It feels a little too “cold war” for me. The interesting thing is that they only use this translation in Revelation. I suppose it’s appropriate (although Americans might not like that the “comrades” are the good guys here).

Doing the translation in the 80s, they must have known how “comrades” would sound to readers. Why would they go with it?

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3 Comments by Patrick George McCullough  /  May 23, 2007  /  Posted in: greek, translation
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  • Jemila Monroe

    Ya, a little cold war-ish. Maybe there was an intention to redefine “comrades” in the face of a western tendency to demonize those with that label?

  • Patrick George McCullough

    That’s what I’m afraid of. A translation like the NRSV shouldn’t be taking on that role.

  • http://patmccullough.com/2009/09/03/the-death-of-a-translation-and-the-reign-of-man/ The Death of a Translation and the Reign of Man « kata ta biblia

    [...] attempts at gender inclusivity are utter nonsense, of course (NRSV: “the accuser of our comrades“??). And my own doctoral advisor, Scott Bartchy, has made strong points about the importance [...]