Interpreting the Word Faithfully: Dei Verbum 22 and the Theological Dimensions of Translating the Bible — A Case Study of Deuteronomy 34
(2026) 18th MEPC Conference — Location: Thrissur, India (13.February.2026)
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- The translation of Scripture remains a critical theological and linguistic challenge, as emphasized by Dei Verbum 22, which calls for the Bible to be rendered faithfully and intelligibly. This paper explores one such challenge in the translation of the Hebrew term wayyiqbor in Deuteronomy 34:6 (“and he buried him”), a phrase that raises the perennial question: Who buried Moses? The Hebrew text attributes the burial ambiguously, lacking an explicit subject. Ancient versions diverge – some implying divine agency (“the Lord buried him”), others suggesting a passive construction (“he was buried”). This study examines the philological, theological, and hermeneutical implications of these translation choices across key textual witnesses – the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Dead Sea Scrolls – and their reception in early Jewish and Christian traditions. By situating this discussion within the framework of Dei Verbum 22, the paper highlights how translation is not merely linguistic mediation but a theological act that shapes our understanding of interaction in Scripture.
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Ausloos, H. (2026). Interpreting the Word Faithfully: Dei Verbum 22 and the Theological Dimensions of Translating the Bible — A Case Study of Deuteronomy 34. 18th MEPC Conference, Thrissur, India. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/272656