『셩경젼셔』(1911)의 복합적 번역대본 가능성 - 출애굽기 4:8을 중심으로 -

Abstract

The process of identifying the source texts for the translation of The Korean Bible (『셩경젼셔』, 1911) primarily starts with the premise that the translators used English, Chinese, and Japanese Bibles as their source texts. Furthermore, I already proposed in the previous article concerning Exodus 4:13 that they might have used the LXX. Therefore, this study aims not only to find the source text for Exodus 4:8 but also to consider the possibility that the first Korean Bible was translated under the combined influences from these different translated Bibles and the LXX.<BR> The result of this study could be summarized in three aspects. First, the expression of “the word of the sign (이젹의 말)” in The Korean Bible reflects “the voice of the sign” in the English Bibles (KJV, RV) which were based upon the MT. In addition, it overcame the temptation of the Chinese and the Japanese Bibles that translated קל (“voice”) using the word 聲 and adopted the translation of either Morrison’s Version or Bridgman-Culbertson’s Version. It probably wanted to convey that the sign is not merely a voice but speaks the words of YHWH. This kind of exegetical translation would be the unique characteristic of The Korean Bible.<BR> Second, where the MT, Chinese, and Japanese Bibles were mostly translated as “the first” and “the latter”, The Korean Bible translated them as “the first” and “the second”. This fact demonstrates that the translators of The Korean Bible in those days might have used the LXX as one of the source texts. Third, the plausible reason for the translation of “the first” and “the second” would be based on the fact that the narrative of Exodus 4:1-9 flows according to the three signs that Moses was supposed to perform in front of the people of Israel and Pharaoh.<BR> This study shows that the translators of The Korean Bible did not translate the biblical text per se, but they did it in harmony with the narrative of the biblical text. Therefore, The Korean Bible was translated under the influences of the combined source texts available at the time and in consideration of the flow of the narratives in Exodus 4:1-9. The missionaries and Korean helpers together did a superb job in finishing up the first Korean Bible in 1911.