Robert Truelove
Puritan Board Sophomore
As an avid KJV reader, I am stricken by the loss of seeing 2nd person singular and plural in modern versions. I don't fault the versions, it's an English issue.
Here is a proposed solution for up and coming members of translation committees. What if we dropped the use of italics throughout the text and only used it to designate second person plural? I realize we then wouldn't be able to use italics to show words added by the translators but that approach has already not been in vogue for some time (regrettably). However, I think it is more helpful to show 2nd person singular/plural than it is to show the added words because showing "added words" is somewhat misleading (it's not so nearly as cut and dried as some people think, whereas 2nd person singular/plural is cut and dried).
I think the use of italics would also work well aesthetically. The use of spaces "y o u" or bold type would make the text look ugly, whereas italics are subtle.
Here is what it would look like in the ESV...
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
Thoughts?
Here is a proposed solution for up and coming members of translation committees. What if we dropped the use of italics throughout the text and only used it to designate second person plural? I realize we then wouldn't be able to use italics to show words added by the translators but that approach has already not been in vogue for some time (regrettably). However, I think it is more helpful to show 2nd person singular/plural than it is to show the added words because showing "added words" is somewhat misleading (it's not so nearly as cut and dried as some people think, whereas 2nd person singular/plural is cut and dried).
I think the use of italics would also work well aesthetically. The use of spaces "y o u" or bold type would make the text look ugly, whereas italics are subtle.
Here is what it would look like in the ESV...
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
Thoughts?