This is the personal website of Paul Davidson, a professional Japanese-English translator living and working in Japan. Paul also studies part-time in the Humanities program at the Open University of Japan, with a focus on language, archaeology, and Mediterranean history. At present, biblical studies is purely a personal interest of his.
Please use the form below to contact Paul on any matter related to this website or biblical studies in general.
Is That in the Bible? 
Hello.
I appreciated your article, “Poor and Misleading Translation in the New International Version (NIV).” I have been trying to find information regarding a change between the NIV84 and the 2011 version of Malachi 2:16. NIV84 says, “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment….” While the NIV11 says, “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect….” I know the footnote of the NIV11 says, “Or, [then prints the NIV84 translation], but there is no explanation as to why the change was made. Is there any comment from the translators regarding this of which you may be aware?
Regards,
Eric.
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Thanks for the comment, Eric. I believe the Hebrew of Malachi 2:16 is highly ambiguous, with several contradictory interpretations being possible, including the identity of the speaker. It’s even possible to interpret it as God demanding divorce (!).
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