Extract from Introductory Notice to the 1890 edition of the Old Testament

This translation of the Old Testament has been derived from a study of the common Hebrew text, and represents at the same time a collation of the late J.N. Darby’s German and French Versions, he having himself revised the first few books within a short time of his decease.

The completion by Mr. Darby of the French translation, which gives his matured views of the meaning of the Hebrew, was felt by many to be a legacy to the Church of Christ through the labours of His servant that could not be allowed to remain only in the language in which it was written. Those who use this English translation may accordingly expect to find incorporated with it whatever is of special value in the above-mentioned Versions, particularly the French, where the common English Bible is defective.

Much of Mr. Darby’s Preface to his German version applies equally to the present Work, as where it is said: ‘In the issue of this translation, the purpose is not to offer to the man of letters a learned work, but rather to provide the simple and unlearned reader with as exact a translation as possible. To this end however all available helps have been used, different versions and commentaries having been laid under contribution. All who have laboured in this field know that in many passages even the most learned men are embarrassed; since a language so ancient, quite different in construction and in form of thought from any modern one, must of course present difficulties in translation. But in these cases, as indeed altogether, we can conscientiously say we have worked carefully and prayerfully. In such passages, especially where able Hebraists have erred, and respecting which differences of opinion always continue to assert themselves, we do not pretend to have rendered the original text without fault; but we hope we can present the whole to the simple reader in a form both exact and intelligible. That is our object. Our work is not a revision of the Bible in common use’—although the reader of the English translation will constantly meet with familiar words and phrases—‘because, as we think, the object sought would not so be attained.’

The style of our own excellent so-called Authorised Version, happily familiar, is here preserved, as far as seems consistent with the exactness sought to be attained; the purpose being ever kept in view of putting the English reader in possession of labours of Mr. Darby which were undertaken in the interest of Christians abroad. The older forms of words are kept for the higher style, suited to the immediate utterances of God and strictly poetical parts.

Our English idiom has been studied, but the difficulty of presenting all in suitable English dress has often been felt, though our resource has been the vocabulary of the Authorized Version, which, from its remarkable richness, almost exhausts the phraseology of the language applicable to sacred subjects. When the common bible afforded no help in this respect, aid has occasionally been sought from other English Bibles of repute, both ancient and modern. But a certain roughness, derived from close adherence to either the German or the French, will doubtless sometimes be apparent.

Poetical parts are distinguished from the rest by a metrical arrangement to which those are accustomed who use Paragraph Bibles. In some of the books however which have almost wholly this character, especially the Prophets, where the poetical form is often complicated, it has been thought wise to abandon the metrical arrangement, in order to render the paragraphs more easily discoverable and in this way facilitate the study of the text. So too in Proverbs, for the introductory chapters; whilst the rest of the book, like Job and the Psalms is arranged in verses, as in ordinary Bibles.

The names of God have been preserved as far as possible according to the original, either in the text or by help of the notes, and are distinguished as follows:—

Elohim is ‘God.’

Eloah is ‘†God.’

El is ‘•God.’

In the Authorised Version of the English Bible ‘God’is used as well as ‘Lord’for Jehovah, and the form ‘Lord’ represents both Jehovah and Jah. This inconvenience is obviated by the use of the Hebrew words anglicised, that is ‘Jehovah,’ and ‘Jah,’ where they respectively occur, and by rendering Adonai regularly ‘Lord.’ In the later Psalms the form Hallelujah, ‘Praise ye Jah,’ has been maintained wherever the sense allowed it. It is a sort of heading to many Psalms. An exception may be noted in Psalm 147.1.