Magandang Balita Biblia
Encyclopedia
The Magandang Balita Biblia (or the Tagalog Popular Version) is one of the two most widely circulated translation of the Christian Bible
in the Tagalog language
[the other entitled Ang Bagong Ang Biblia, a revision of the earlier Ang Biblia (meaning The Bible)], first published by the Philippine Bible Society in 1973. This translation
of the Holy Scriptures in Tagalog follows the tradition of the Good News Bible
, an English language translation published by the American Bible Society
in 1966.
However, the Magandang Balita Biblia is not a translation of the Good News Bible but only a parallel translation
of it. Also, like the tradition of the Good News Bible, some publications features line drawings of Biblical events with a snippet of text.
Also, unlike other Tagalog translations, the 'Magandang Balita Biblia' also tried to translate the verse parts of the Bible in verse form, making it more singable when set to music.
, the 'Magandang Balita Biblia' has easily become a very popular version in the Philippines
and the Filipino diaspora. Its version of the Psalms
was used as the official text of the Liturgy of the Hours
in Tagalog. It is also widely used by those of other denominations in church services and Bible Studies
.
s as the main basis of their Old Testament
. However, when there was no satisfactory text that could be used as a basis, the PBS opted to use any of the oldest versions available. These versions are those written in Greek
, Syriac
or Latin. However, when there still was no other version available, the committee opted to use a modern translation that they deemed suitable.
For the Deuterocanonical Books
, the translator used the Septuagint as the sole basis. Particularly, they used the one that was published in 1949, which was edited by Alfred Rahlfs
. However, for comparative purposes, the PBS used the Biblia Sacra (published 1969) which was prepared by Robert Weber
.
When it comes to the New Testament
, the Translators used the Greek New Testament (published 1975), same for some parts that was based on a variant reading supported by one or more Greek manuscript.
readers.
Since there was a Filipinisation' trend during the Marcos Era (the time when the Book was published), it was just expected that there was a tension regarding the use of borrowed words. This was, however, changed in the 2005 Edition of the Bible when the translators chose words like bag instead of the more traditional sisidlan.
The translators used the more ecumanical Yahweh
for the tetragrammaton YHWH. For many Filipinos, using the name Jehovah
would connote that the Bible was made by a specific denomination (specifically, the Jehovah's Witnesses). Another reason for doing this is to eliminate the confusion on instances where the term YHWH Elohim is used. Thus, the latter term is translated as Panginoong Yahweh.
As is the practice in all the Bible translations in the Philippine languages
, place names and personal names followed their Spanish
counterparts.
The new revision as of 2005, changed some proper names such as 'Nabucadnosor' to the more familiar 'Nebucadnezar' and 'Esdras' to 'Ezra'. Likewise, the new revision has its footnotes added and had also interspersed the deuterocanonical books in its Catholic versions.
Likewise, some archaic words found in the 1980 edition, such as 'patutot'(prostitute), 'pakakak' (trumpet), 'saserdote'(priest), and 'lebadura'(yeast) were changed to contemporary 'babaing nagbebebta ng aliw', 'trumpeta', 'pari', 'pampaalsa'.
and the Episcopal Church in the Philippines
.
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
in the Tagalog language
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
[the other entitled Ang Bagong Ang Biblia, a revision of the earlier Ang Biblia (meaning The Bible)], first published by the Philippine Bible Society in 1973. This translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
of the Holy Scriptures in Tagalog follows the tradition of the Good News Bible
Good News Bible
The Good News Bible , also called the Good News Translation , is an English language translation of the Bible by the American Bible Society, first published as the New Testament under the name Good News for Modern Man in 1966...
, an English language translation published by the American Bible Society
American Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
in 1966.
However, the Magandang Balita Biblia is not a translation of the Good News Bible but only a parallel translation
Bible translations
The Bible has been translated into many languages from the biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Indeed, the full Bible has been translated into over 450 languages, although sections of the Bible have been translated into over 2,000 languages....
of it. Also, like the tradition of the Good News Bible, some publications features line drawings of Biblical events with a snippet of text.
Also, unlike other Tagalog translations, the 'Magandang Balita Biblia' also tried to translate the verse parts of the Bible in verse form, making it more singable when set to music.
Popularity
As there are but a very few translations of the Holy Scriptures in TagalogTagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
, the 'Magandang Balita Biblia' has easily become a very popular version in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and the Filipino diaspora. Its version of the Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
was used as the official text of the Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
in Tagalog. It is also widely used by those of other denominations in church services and Bible Studies
Cell group
The cell group is a form of church organization that is used in some Christian churches. Cell groups are generally intended to teach the Bible and personalize Christian fellowship. They are always used in cell churches, but also occur in parachurch organizations and other interdenominational...
.
Sources and bases
According to the Philippine Bible Society, the translators used the Masoretic TextMasoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
s as the main basis of their Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
. However, when there was no satisfactory text that could be used as a basis, the PBS opted to use any of the oldest versions available. These versions are those written in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Syriac
Syriac language
Syriac is a dialect of Middle Aramaic that was once spoken across much of the Fertile Crescent. Having first appeared as a script in the 1st century AD after being spoken as an unwritten language for five centuries, Classical Syriac became a major literary language throughout the Middle East from...
or Latin. However, when there still was no other version available, the committee opted to use a modern translation that they deemed suitable.
For the Deuterocanonical Books
Deuterocanonical books
Deuterocanonical books is a term used since the sixteenth century in the Catholic Church and Eastern Christianity to describe certain books and passages of the Christian Old Testament that are not part of the Hebrew Bible. The term is used in contrast to the protocanonical books, which are...
, the translator used the Septuagint as the sole basis. Particularly, they used the one that was published in 1949, which was edited by Alfred Rahlfs
Alfred Rahlfs
Alfred Rahlfs was born in Linden, Hannover, Germany. He studied Protestant Theology, Philosophy, and Oriental Languages in Halle and Göttingen, from where he received a Dr. Phil. in 1881...
. However, for comparative purposes, the PBS used the Biblia Sacra (published 1969) which was prepared by Robert Weber
Robert Weber
Robert Weber may refer to:* Robert Weber , prominent U.S. astronomer* Robert J. Weber, American academic and educator*Bob Weber, former coach of two American college football teams...
.
When it comes to the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, the Translators used the Greek New Testament (published 1975), same for some parts that was based on a variant reading supported by one or more Greek manuscript.
Features and translation method
The Magandang Balita Biblia is the first Tagalog Bible to use the dynamic equivalence technique. Its aim was to give more emphasis to meaning than to form. Unlike the earlier Ang Biblia, this translation of the Bible used weights and measures that were more familiar to FilipinoFilipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
readers.
Since there was a Filipinisation' trend during the Marcos Era (the time when the Book was published), it was just expected that there was a tension regarding the use of borrowed words. This was, however, changed in the 2005 Edition of the Bible when the translators chose words like bag instead of the more traditional sisidlan.
The translators used the more ecumanical Yahweh
Yahweh
Yahweh is the name of God in the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jews and Christians.The word Yahweh is a modern scholarly convention for the Hebrew , transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH and known as the Tetragrammaton, for which the original pronunciation is unknown...
for the tetragrammaton YHWH. For many Filipinos, using the name Jehovah
Jehovah
Jehovah is an anglicized representation of Hebrew , a vocalization of the Tetragrammaton , the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible....
would connote that the Bible was made by a specific denomination (specifically, the Jehovah's Witnesses). Another reason for doing this is to eliminate the confusion on instances where the term YHWH Elohim is used. Thus, the latter term is translated as Panginoong Yahweh.
As is the practice in all the Bible translations in the Philippine languages
Philippine languages
The Philippine languages are a 1991 proposal by Robert Blust that all the languages of the Philippines and northern Sulawesi—except Sama–Bajaw and a few languages of Palawan—form a subfamily of Austronesian languages...
, place names and personal names followed their Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
counterparts.
The new revision as of 2005, changed some proper names such as 'Nabucadnosor' to the more familiar 'Nebucadnezar' and 'Esdras' to 'Ezra'. Likewise, the new revision has its footnotes added and had also interspersed the deuterocanonical books in its Catholic versions.
Likewise, some archaic words found in the 1980 edition, such as 'patutot'(prostitute), 'pakakak' (trumpet), 'saserdote'(priest), and 'lebadura'(yeast) were changed to contemporary 'babaing nagbebebta ng aliw', 'trumpeta', 'pari', 'pampaalsa'.
Liturgical usage
Being an ecumenical translation, the liturgical usage of the 1st edition was upheld by the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. This is also the recognised text by most of the Churches the uses Tagalog in the Liturgy, such as the Iglesia Filipina IndipendientePhilippine Independent Church
The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, The Philippine Independent Church, (officially the or the IFI, also known as the Philippine Independent Catholic Church or in Ilocano: Siwawayawaya nga Simbaan ti Filipinas (in in Kinaray-a/Hiligaynon: Simbahan Hilway nga...
and the Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Episcopal Church in the Philippines is a province of the Anglican Communion first established by the Episcopal Church. It was founded in 1901 by American missionaries led by Charles Henry Brent, who served as the first resident bishop. It became an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion...
.