Jehovahs Witnesses: Why is the Greek word “heos” mistranslated in the NWT?
Your argument on the surface seems to be sound. But under close examination it fails to make your point. First, your argument isn’t based on a solid foundation for two reasons: 1) Translators don’t use Strong’s. Strong’s was made for the layperson and doesn’t represent the full semantic domain of word definitions. 2) The NWT is not a ‘word for word translation of the Bible,’ nor does it claim to be. A word for word translation is an interlinear, which often produces nonsensical English sentences. The NWT translators did not bind themselves to the unreasonable rule of translating everything word for word: “Our endeavor throughout has been to give as literal a translation as possible where the modern English idiom allows for it or where the thought content is not hidden due to any awkwardness in the literal rendition.” Foreword to the NWT, 1st edition. The NWT is in no way bound to translate ‘heos’ as until every time the word occurs. Depending on context, the NWT may translate it in any
Greetings, I have found that the majority of criticisms regarding specific renderings in the NWT are based upon theological biases and not on translational principles or actual word definitions and grammar. Your question is no different and your view that it “mistranslates hEWS” and “changes the meaning of this verse” is based on your theology and not on an understanding of translational or exegetical rules. The NWT has repeatedly been proven to be one of the most accurate translations and perhaps the “best” overall. Whether it is the “best” in any specific verse is largely a subjective determination, but I’ve found that it can be supported in every case by solid evidence. The NWT points out that it strives “to give as literal a translation as possible where the modern-English idiom allows and where a literal rendition does not, by any awkwardness, hide the thought.” This is a recognized principle in translation. JFB: “Mt.5:18, …the prevalent representation of the heavens and the ear
