Punctuation when translating the Bible.? Shouldnt religions in general be far more careful?

Question

As we know the original texts of the bible were arabic and hence had little or no punctuation.
When people translated things then the insertion of Commas in particular can have dramatic effects.

For Instance Jehovahs witnesses believe that when you die you are dead until you are raised up again on judgement day.
This seems to go against Christ's words to the thief on the cross," truely I say to you COMMA today we will walk together in paradise" which tends to indicate that Jesus felt they were both going to carry on existing albiet in Paradise, today.

In the Jehovahs witnesses Bible the comma is placed one word later.
" truely I say to you today COMMA we will walk together in paradise"

The Witnesses will say that Jesus was saying " Im telling you today, that (one day in the future) we will walk together in paradise."

Hence the outcome is that the effect of placing one Comma before or after a word is dramatic paving the way for immediate afterlife or not.

Daft innit?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses haven't just 'decided' upon a whim to put the comma where it is placed.

Let me explain why Jehovah's Witnesses put the comma where they do -
First of all there was no punctuation in the original Greek manuscripts.
So - should Luke 23:43 read, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (RS), or should it be, ‘Truly I say to you today, You will be with me in Paradise’?

The teachings of Christ and the rest of the Bible must be the basis for determination, and not a comma inserted in the text centuries after Jesus said those words.
The Bible does not agree with the view that Jesus and the evildoer went to heaven on the day that Jesus spoke to him. Jesus had foretold that, after his being killed, he would not be raised up until the third day. (Luke 9:22)
During that three-day period he was not in heaven, because following his resurrection he told Mary Magdalene: “I have not yet ascended to the Father.” (John 20:17)
It was 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection that his disciples saw him lifted up from the earth and out of their sight as he began his ascent to heaven.—Acts 1:3, 6-11.

The evildoer did not meet the requirements to go to heaven even at some later time. He was not “born again”—being neither baptized in water nor begotten by God’s spirit. Holy spirit was not poured out upon Jesus’ disciples until more than 50 days after the evildoer’s death.
(John 3:3, 5; Acts 2:1-4)
On the day of his death, Jesus had made with those ‘who had stuck with him in his trials’ a covenant for a heavenly kingdom. The evildoer had no such record of faithfulness and was not included.—Luke 22:28-30.
Couple these facts with other scriptures showing that the 'paradise' mentioned is in fact earthly & we have a complete picture
Psalm 37:9-11 & 29
John 5:28,28
Daniel 7:13,14

In light of these scriptures we can only conclude that the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures along with some other translations (eg, The Emphasised Bible) are correct as to where the comma is inserted.

Thank you for the opportunity to answer this question
:)

Answer 2

Since there is no punctuation in the original Greek text of the Christian Scriptures, we must be careful where we put it. Since it can be particularly confusing in regard to Jesus' words here at Luke 23:43, we must look for what Jesus meant from other parts of the Bible.

For instance, the remaining parts of Luke (and the last chapters of Matthew, Mark and John and the first chapters of Acts) indicate that Jesus himself did not go to paradise that day. What these chapters show is that Jesus was dead for three days and was raised to heavenly life 40 days later. So then, how could the criminal executed with Jesus that day follow him to paradise if Jesus himself didn't go for several weeks.

The nature of death is shown clearly from other scriptures. In the Genesis account about Adam, he is told that he would return to the ground that he came from if he disobeyed Jehovah.

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, Psalm 146:4, John 11:11-14 and Isaiah 26:14 show that the dead are impotent, concious of nothing.

Ezekiel 18:4 and Isaiah 53:12 shows that souls die and do not necessarily survive the death of the body.

There are many other scriptures which, in duscussing aspects of life, death and resurrection, indicate in one way or another the true nature of death.

All these scriptures indicate that life is the opposite of death. Death is automatic on the cessation of life and complete with no part of us survivng afterwards. There is no scripture which indicates anything otherwise.

Jehovah does grant the gift of life even to those who have died by means of the resurrection. What form that life takes for each individual is up to him and the righteous judge he appointed, Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

You're right that translation is difficult. However, you're not correct about the language. The original Bible (known as the Old Testament) was written in Hebrew, not Arabic. That does indeed have no punctuation. But the New Testament was mainly written in Greek, which does have punctuation. So your point about the thief on the cross is not relevant.

Answer 4

Sorry but your facts are wrong. The Bible was NEVER in Arabic in its original language. It is Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. Translation into English or another language is essential if we want to understand the Bible, short of us learning the original languages, a luxury we do not all have. But translation means we have to use the receptor language and its grammar and syntax. It does not mean that because Greek has no punctuation then we also have no punctuation. That would make reading so impossible. Translators have a working knowledge of the original languages so that they know how it meant, and then translate it into our language. There is simply no other way.

Answer 5

Ur question is quite interesting. For the that the punctuation marks can change the sentence's meaning, Quran has no punctuation mark and hence it is quite clear to understand.

Just for ur knowledge about God or religion, plz click the follwing link:

http://www.sultan.org/articles/QScience.html

Answer 6

That's one of the best reasons for having more than one version and doing some reasearch on your own. Much of the time the concept becomes clear when you make the effort.

Answer 7

No, they are trying to support what they already believe. If the bible doesn't support it they find a way to make it support their belief. If they can't find a way to do this, like the Jehovah Witnesses, and Catholic, they just rewrite their own bible.

Answer 8

Interesting point. Any more like that ?

Answer 9

Most of mankind's dead are simply in a sleep-like state of non-existence, awaiting resurrection after Armageddon.

(John 11:11,14,23-25) [Jesus] said to them: “Lazarus our friend has gone to rest, but I am journeying there to awaken him from sleep.” ...Jesus said to them outspokenly: “Lazarus has died... Jesus said to [Martha]: “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life

(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.


The bible teaches that "hell" is *NOT* a fiery place of torment, but is actually the common grave of mankind. There is no suffering in "hell", or the grave. Sometime after the resurrection (once the grave is "empty"), death and "hell" will themselves be destroyed.

(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all

(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]

(Revelation 20:14) And death and Hades ["hell"] were hurled into the lake of fire


The bible plainly teaches that a "soul" can die. In both Hebrew and Greek, original language words translated "soul" simply mean "a life", with no implication regarding some immortal otherworldly entity. Each deceased life is in Jehovah God's remembrance (with the potential for future resurrection), but the dead do not exist anywhere but memories until and unless the life is resurrected.

(Ezekiel 18:4) The soul that is sinning - it itself will die.

(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all

(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]

(Genesis 2:17) But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.”

(Genesis 17:14) And an uncircumcised male who will not get the flesh of his foreskin circumcised, even that soul must be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”

(Judges 16:30) And Samson proceeded to say: “Let my soul die with the Philistines.” Then he bent himself with power, and the house went falling upon the axis lords and upon all the people that were in it, so that the dead that he put to death in his own death came to be more than those he had put to death during his lifetime.

(Job 33:22) And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those inflicting death.

(Psalm 78:50) He did not hold back their soul from death itself; And their life he handed over even to the pestilence.

(Isaiah 53:12) he poured out his soul to the very death

(Acts 3:23) Indeed, any soul that does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people.’

(Revelation 16:3) And the second one poured out his bowl into the sea. And it became blood as of a dead man, and every living soul died, yes, the things in the sea.


For the vast majority of mankind, their eternal hope is unending peaceful productive life in perfect human bodies in a restored paradise earth.

(Psalm 37:10,11,29) And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more; And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be. 11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. ...The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it.


Bible students may recall this is exactly the life that Adam and Eve enjoyed before they introduced sinful imperfection and the issue of universal sovereignty. It is Christ Jesus who settles the issue and redeems mankind for all time.

(Genesis 2:15-17) Jehovah God proceeded to take the man and settle him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to take care of it. 16 And Jehovah God also laid this command upon the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. 17 But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” [note that abstaining from that one fruit would mean the man would never die]

(Romans 5:12,14) Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men ...death ruled as king from Adam

(1 Corinthians 15:22) For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive


Learn more related to "hell":
http://watchtower.org/e/20020715/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020601/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20010901/article_02.htm

Learn more related to "soul":
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970515/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050501/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Learn more related to humankind's future:
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm