Bible Translation: Translating Ambiguity, Metaphors and Word Play

Date: Monday 23 November 2026
Time: 9.00-11.30 AM
Venue: Sheraton
Room: Governor’s Square 12

Speaker 1**: Knut Heim (Denver Seminary)Title: “Bible Translation Theory and Practice: Identifying and Rendering Ambiguity”**

Abstract: The Bible contains numerous incidents of intentional ambiguity, and this plays an important role in the formation of Christian disciples (see Heim and Oetter, Hermeneutic of Imagination, [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2025]). But how can Bible translators identify intentional ambiguity, and how can it be rendered in a given target language? – This paper explores the hermeneutical implications of this for a modern take on biblical inspiration and uses five case studies, three from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament, to suggest three criteria for identification. It will then explore how recent translations into English, German, French, and Spanish have rendered the text samples, leading to two practical proposals for rendering intentional ambiguity.

Responder: Riikka Halme-Berneking (United Bible Societies)

Speaker 2**: Pierre van Hecke (KU Leuven)Title: Translating Job’s Metaphors: From Ancient Versions to Contemporary Practice**

Abstract: Metaphors pose particular challenges for the translator since their rendering requires not only the transfer of words and sentences across languages but also the transmission of conceptual structures. As Conceptual Metaphor Theory has shown, a metaphor of the form “A is B” involves understanding one domain of knowledge (A) in terms of another, non-related domain (B). Because such conceptual mappings are largely culturally conditioned, translators must consider whether a given metaphorical conceptualization will only function in the same way in the target language. This raises the question of how far the original metaphor can or should be preserved, or whether it ought to be rendered through alternative translation strategies. This paper examines the extent to which current approaches to the translation of metaphor within Descriptive Translation Studies can be supplemented by insights from Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Deliberate Metaphor Theory in addressing this issue. These theoretical perspectives will be applied to the analysis of both ancient and modern translations of several particularly challenging metaphors in the Book of Job.

Responder: Alexey Somov (University of Regensburg, United Bible Societies)

Speaker 3**: Roy Ciampa (Samford University)Title: Translating Wordplay in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians as a Test Case**

Abstract: Wordplay presents special challenges for translators. This paper follows up on a recent assessment of the use of wordplay in 1 Corinthians which identified approximately 40 wordplays and developed a taxonomy of five different types, based explicitly on linguistic features of Greek. This paper summarizes the different kinds of wordplay found in 1 Corinthians and then focuses on the challenges and opportunities that each different kind of wordplay brings to translation (with a special focus on English and some other European languages) and assesses some compensating and other approaches that have been applied or proposed.

Responder: Marlon Winedt (United Bible Societies)

The Bible Translator is the leading academic journal dedicated to the theory and practice of Bible translation. It has been published continuously since 1950, and exists firstly to serve those directly involved in Bible translation, aiming to encourage sharing of the results of their research and records of their practice. It exists also to provide a forum for a wider community of scholars and students interested in a range of disciplines which influence the translation of the Bible, and encourages engagement between scholars and translators.

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