Bible Quote by Sarah Ruden
““These languages were not like modern globalized ones, serving mainly to convey information in explicit and interchangeable forms-- but with a dimension called 'style' for artistic uses on the side. Instead the original Bible was, like all of ancient rhetoric and poetry, primarily a set of live performances and what they meant was tightly bound up in the way they meant it...this degree of difference can prevail when the Bible is translated without attention to its original forms particularly those that inform its striking and moving expressiveness-- that is, its beauty. Almost literally, if we can't dance to it, we don't understand it.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Literary criticism
The author argues that translating the Bible without preserving its original stylistic and performative qualities loses its expressive beauty and meaning.
In simple terms: Translation that ignores original style strips the text of its depth and impact.
Key Takeaway
Preserve style when translating sacred texts.
Themes
translation
style
beauty
performance
Mood
thoughtful
critical
scholarly
Type
literary
theoretical
When to use this quote
- Bible translation projects
- literary adaptation
- academic study
Key Concepts
rhetoric
poetry
cultural context
Questions to Reflect On
- How can translators balance fidelity and readability?
- What aspects of style are essential to retain?
A Different Perspective
Style may be impossible to fully convey across languages.
