Some words in chap. 1 of Genesis are in italics. What does this signify?

Question

I'm told that LORD in small caps signifies that this is the translation of "Yahweh" (or tetragrammaton?) while God, printed conventionally indicates translation from "Elohim". Checking this out, I noticed that some words and short phrases are in italics. What does that signify?

Answer 1

Italics indicate the words are supplied by the translators, usually to make sense to an English reader. Actually the word in the original is YHWH, or Yahweh, when all the letters are in caps (usually rendered LORD). If it is just first letter cap (Lord), the word in the original is Adonai - the general Hebrew word for lord. If in combinations, eg., the Lord GOD; this indicates the original is Adonai Yahweh. If the word is God, this is usually a rendering of the Hebrew elohim, plural form for the word God (singular is el). Generally, anytime the word is all caps, it is the sacred name, YHWH, or Yahweh.

Answer 2

This is mainly only in the KJV. It's how the translators indicated they were using a word that wasn't in the original languages for the purpose of making the original meaning clearer to the readers. Most modern versions do not use italics because translation philosophy has changed some over the years away from "wooden" literalism to dynamic "meaning-oriented" translation.

Answer 3

Italics indicates words supplied by the editors to help clarify the meaning and beter relate the original language into english.
The Bible was translated from Hebrew and Greek languages.
I gave you the italics answer..hope it helps,,also if you read your bible,it will tell you what the italics are for in the special features area.

Answer 4

I was always taught that the italics were used to signal to the reader something was not a literal translation.

Whether there was no English counterpart to the Hebrew word, the difference in grammar required a change, or the original had some unique spelling or emphasis.


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Answer 5

Check out the translators notes page at the front of your Bible. Usually you will find that either parts were missing in the original text or that words were added to make the passage make sense. It was carefully done by the translators using very careful exegesis.

Answer 6

Neither, of course Sly. Adam and Eve seems the preferred story overall. But this story relegates Eve, the woman, to be man's helper. In essence a slave to man the master. I think this belief has led to a lot of horrid and dysfunctional lives. Having made man and woman together would more appropriately allow equality between genders. But, wouldn't then hermaphrodites be considered Holy! Why the two Genesis tails? The Bible becomes confused with itself right from the beginning.

Answer 7

It depends on which translation you are reading. Italics usually mean that the word was added in order for the translation to make clearer sense.

Answer 8

That they were added. It's hard to translate Hebrew and Greek into other lang's. The grammar doesn't match at all. And one word in either of those languages could have several different meanings. They had to in order to get the general meaning across.

Answer 9

These are words added by the translators for clarity, since the original Greek or Hebrew may not have those words included. But, without the additions, wouldn't make sense grammatically in the English.

Answer 10

Check the beginning of your Bible. They will have explanations of editorial conventions used in your particular Bible.

Some place words in Italics that are used in some manuscripts, but omitted in others. Some italicize words that are implied, but not directly given. The foreword or introduction of your Bible will tell you what the editors meant.