Lost in Translation

 

I think that we forget that the bible was not originally written in English. I think that we forget that the bible was written about real people living real experiences at a real time in history. I think we forget that these real people spoke a language that wasn’t English.

In the English language we have one word to describe a thing while in other languages there are several different words to describe the different types of the single word we use in English.

For instance, our English word “love”, no matter what type of love we want to express, there is only this one word, while in Greek, there are several words to describe the different kinds of love, agape, eros, philía, philautía, storge, and xenia, so there’s no ambiguity.

And in some instances, certain words in one language simply do not exist in English, so the very essence of the word gets lost in translation. Take the Danish word “hygge”, it can’t be properly expressed in English because it’s more of a feeling, a mood or an experience; in an effort to explain its meaning, it’s translated as “coziness” but that doesn’t do it justice since it is so much more than that.

“Hygge”, like some Hebrew and Greek words, is cultural and relational, so the translation is more of an interpretation than a true reflection of the word itself and inevitably the word’s essential meaning is lost in translation.

I imagine that when translating from any language into another, translators have to decide the best word-meaning choice, wondering, “will it fit the context?”, “will it carry the cultural meaning?”, “will it convey the genuine essence of the original language?”

Whatever the choice, it will have an effect on how we understand the word and in the case of God’s Word which was translated from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek to English.

Those who translated the bible years ago did not have the same life experiences as the people of the first century.

Their culture, their idea of community, how they viewed honour, saw shame, carried out justice, their familial relationships, their entire way of life, and even their communion with God, were vastly different so, it’s no wonder that context got lost in translation. Meanings got lost in translation. Understanding got lost in translation. Expressions got lost in translation. The intensity and the true impact of a whole verse or even a chapter got lost in translation because of the interpretation of a single word.

Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC)

Beloved, every time you read the bible, you’re reading someone’s interpretation so that’s more reason for you to dig deep, go beneath the words on the pages, and always seek Spirit’s guidance because the words that have been lost in translation hold much more meaning than you realize.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Lost in Translation” ©2026 June 23, 2026