Robert Alter's Translation of the Hebrew Bible

[Peter C Smythe]

Author: Robert Alter

Book: Hebrew Bible

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company

 

I just finished reading Alter's The Art of Bible Translation and it was brilliant. I would use his OT translation as my go-to translation if it were part of Accordance. 

[Guest]

When last discussed, it was discovered that the publisher does not grant electronic rights to the title.

[Robert Holmstedt]

For anyone reading Alter's translation, I highly recommend the review below, by Ed Greenstein (a true master of Semitics and Bible).

 

Greenstein_ReviewAlterHebrewBible_RBL2020.pdf

[Peter C Smythe]

6 minutes ago, Robert Holmstedt said:

For anyone reading Alter's translation, I highly recommend the review below, by Ed Greenstein (a true master of Semitics and Bible).

 

Greenstein_ReviewAlterHebrewBible_RBL2020.pdf 442.54 kB · 1 download

That's a yikes. Thanks, Robert.

[Philip Mohr]

Having engaged with Alter's translation of the Psalms, I can second the criticism of the review article, especially this sentence: "Alter frequently apprises his readers of facts drawn from historical and philological scholarship, but he often misleads with misinformation." The annotations on his Psalms translation are rife with historical-critical errors and philological missteps. That's not to say that it's all bad. I still consult his translation, and even error can stimulate thought; however, I usually consult it as a counterpoint to better scholarship and more reliable translations. If Accordance can't get Alter's translation and notes because of the publisher, it is no great loss.

Edited August 2, 2022 by Philip Mohr