Revised English Bible
Encyclopedia
The Revised English Bible (REB) is a 1989 English language translation of the Bible
and updates the New English Bible
, of 1970. As with its predecessor, it is published by the publishing houses of both Oxford University
and Cambridge University
.
, moving the REB more in the direction of standard translations such as NRSV or NIV.
The translation is intended to be somewhat gender-inclusive, though not to the same extent as translations such as the NRSV. Psalm 1 offers an illustration of the REB's middle-ground approach to gender-inclusive language. On one side are more traditional translations such as the KJV and the ESV
that use the word "man" and the masculine singular pronoun in Psalm 1. The ESV
, for example, has "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked . . . ; but his delight is in the law of the Lord." On the other side are more gender-inclusive translations such as the NRSV that avoid any masculine nouns and pronouns in Psalm 1. The NRSV uses plurals: "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked . . . ; but their delight is in the law of the Lord." In between these two approaches is the translation of Psalm 1 in the REB, which avoids using a male noun ("man") but retains the masculine singular pronouns ("his"): "Happy is the one who does not take the counsel of the wicked for a guide . . . . His delight is in the law of the Lord."
The style of the REB has been described by several people as more "literary" than NRSV or NIV. It tends slightly further in the direction of "dynamic equivalence
" than those translations, but still translates Hebrew poetry as poetry and reflects at least some of the characteristics of that poetry. The REB's general accuracy and literary flavour has led Stephen Mitchell and others to compliment it as one of the best English renderings. The translators of the REB gave particular attention to its suitability for public reading, especially in the Book of Psalms.
These days there are few differences between evangelical and non-evangelical translations. The best-known difference is probably Isaiah 7:14, where evangelical translators often have "virgin" instead of "young woman". The REB is a non-evangelical translation.
Like the NEB, it is primarily presented to the British and British-educated public, although it has some American
users and admirers (as indicated by the sales of it within the USA).
Revisers: The Rev. Professor G. W. Anderson; The Very Rev. Professor R. S. Barbour; The Rev. Fr I. P. M. Brayley, SJ; Dr M. Brewster; Dr S. P. Brock; The Rev. Professor G. B. Caird; The Rev. Dr. P. Ellingworth; Dr R. P. Gordon; Professor M. D. Hooker; The Rev. A. A. Macintosh; The Rev. Professor W. McKane; The Rev. Professor I. H. Marshall; The Rev. Dr R. A. Mason; The Rev. Dr I. Moir; The Rev. Fr R. Murray, SJ; The Rev. Professor E. W. Nicholson; Dr C. H. Roberts; Dr R. B. Salters; Dr P. C. H. Wernberg-Moller; The Rev. Professor M. F. Wiles
Literary Advisers: M. H. Black; Mrs M. Caird; J. K. Cordy, Baroness de Ward; The Rev. Dr I. Gray; Dr P. Larkin; Miss Doris Martin; Dr. C. H. Roberts; Sir Richard Southern
; P. J. Spicer; Dr. J. I. M. Stewart; Mary (Lady) Stewart
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...
and updates the New English Bible
New English Bible
The New English Bible is a translation of the Bible into modern English directly from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts . The New Testament was published in 1961...
, of 1970. As with its predecessor, it is published by the publishing houses of both Oxford University
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
and Cambridge University
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
.
Translation philosophy
The REB is the result of both advances in scholarship and translation made since the 1960s and also a desire to correct what have been seen as some of the NEB's more egregious errors. For examples of changes, see the references. The changes remove many of the most idiosyncratic renderings of the New English BibleNew English Bible
The New English Bible is a translation of the Bible into modern English directly from the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts . The New Testament was published in 1961...
, moving the REB more in the direction of standard translations such as NRSV or NIV.
The translation is intended to be somewhat gender-inclusive, though not to the same extent as translations such as the NRSV. Psalm 1 offers an illustration of the REB's middle-ground approach to gender-inclusive language. On one side are more traditional translations such as the KJV and the ESV
ESV
ESV may refer to:* The English Standard Version, a translation of the Bible* The Cadillac Escalade ESV, a rebadged Chevrolet Suburban* End-systolic volume* Earth Station onboard Vessel an FCC term related to maritime satellite systems...
that use the word "man" and the masculine singular pronoun in Psalm 1. The ESV
ESV
ESV may refer to:* The English Standard Version, a translation of the Bible* The Cadillac Escalade ESV, a rebadged Chevrolet Suburban* End-systolic volume* Earth Station onboard Vessel an FCC term related to maritime satellite systems...
, for example, has "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked . . . ; but his delight is in the law of the Lord." On the other side are more gender-inclusive translations such as the NRSV that avoid any masculine nouns and pronouns in Psalm 1. The NRSV uses plurals: "Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked . . . ; but their delight is in the law of the Lord." In between these two approaches is the translation of Psalm 1 in the REB, which avoids using a male noun ("man") but retains the masculine singular pronouns ("his"): "Happy is the one who does not take the counsel of the wicked for a guide . . . . His delight is in the law of the Lord."
The style of the REB has been described by several people as more "literary" than NRSV or NIV. It tends slightly further in the direction of "dynamic equivalence
Dynamic and formal equivalence
In Bible translation dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence are two approaches to translation. The terms are not found in general linguistics or translation theory but were coined by Eugene Nida...
" than those translations, but still translates Hebrew poetry as poetry and reflects at least some of the characteristics of that poetry. The REB's general accuracy and literary flavour has led Stephen Mitchell and others to compliment it as one of the best English renderings. The translators of the REB gave particular attention to its suitability for public reading, especially in the Book of Psalms.
These days there are few differences between evangelical and non-evangelical translations. The best-known difference is probably Isaiah 7:14, where evangelical translators often have "virgin" instead of "young woman". The REB is a non-evangelical translation.
Like the NEB, it is primarily presented to the British and British-educated public, although it has some American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
users and admirers (as indicated by the sales of it within the USA).
Sponsors
The churches and other Christian groups that sponsored the REB were:- Baptist Union of Great BritainBaptist Union of Great BritainThe Baptist Union of Great Britain, despite its name, is the association of Baptist churches in England and Wales. -History:...
- Bible SocietyBritish and Foreign Bible SocietyThe British and Foreign Bible Society, often known in England and Wales as simply as Bible Society, is a non-denominational Christian Bible society with charity status whose purpose is to make the Bible available throughout the world....
- Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
- Church of ScotlandChurch of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
- Council of Churches for Wales
- Iglesia Ni CristoIglesia ni CristoIglesia ni Cristo also known as INC, is the largest entirely indigenous Christian religious organization that originated from the Philippines and the largest independent church in Asia. Due to a number of similarities, some Protestant writers describe the INC's doctrines as restorationist in...
- Irish Council of Churches
- The London Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of FriendsReligious Society of FriendsThe Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
- Methodist Church of Great Britain
- Moravian Church in Great Britain and Ireland
- National Bible Society of Scotland
- Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales
- Roman Catholic Church in Ireland
- Roman Catholic Church in Scotland
- Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
- United Reformed ChurchUnited Reformed ChurchThe United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
Revision Committee Members
Director of Revision: W. D. McHardyRevisers: The Rev. Professor G. W. Anderson; The Very Rev. Professor R. S. Barbour; The Rev. Fr I. P. M. Brayley, SJ; Dr M. Brewster; Dr S. P. Brock; The Rev. Professor G. B. Caird; The Rev. Dr. P. Ellingworth; Dr R. P. Gordon; Professor M. D. Hooker; The Rev. A. A. Macintosh; The Rev. Professor W. McKane; The Rev. Professor I. H. Marshall; The Rev. Dr R. A. Mason; The Rev. Dr I. Moir; The Rev. Fr R. Murray, SJ; The Rev. Professor E. W. Nicholson; Dr C. H. Roberts; Dr R. B. Salters; Dr P. C. H. Wernberg-Moller; The Rev. Professor M. F. Wiles
Literary Advisers: M. H. Black; Mrs M. Caird; J. K. Cordy, Baroness de Ward; The Rev. Dr I. Gray; Dr P. Larkin; Miss Doris Martin; Dr. C. H. Roberts; Sir Richard Southern
Richard Southern
Sir Richard William Southern , who published under the name R. W. Southern, was a noted English medieval historian, based at the University of Oxford.-Biography:...
; P. J. Spicer; Dr. J. I. M. Stewart; Mary (Lady) Stewart
External links
- Revised English Bible: Cambridge University Press
- An Overview of the REB By Michael Marlowe