‘Human One’ replaces ‘Son of man’ in new ecumenical Bible translation

August 18, 2011

Twelve Catholic biblical scholars have joined nearly 200 scholars from two dozen Protestant denominations in translating the newly published Common English Bible (CEB). “It's an honor and a pleasure to be associated with this good project,” said Father Daniel Harrington, SJ, professor at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

The CEB eschews the word “man” in several passages: Christ is referred to as the “Human One” rather than the “Son of man” (Mt. 10:23), and “the human” replaces “the man” in Genesis 2 (“with the rib taken from the human, the Lord God fashioned a woman and brought her to the human being”). “Happy” replaces “blessed” in the Beatitudes.

The CEB translates other familiar passages in new ways. The Lord God “formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land” rather than from the “dust of the ground” (Gn. 2:7), and Gn. 1:11 reads:

God said, “Let the earth grow plant life: plants yielding seeds and fruit trees bearing fruit with seeds inside it, each according to its kind throughout the earth.” And that’s what happened.

The CEB’s translation of the Lord’s Prayer is also novel:

Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

 

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Further information:

• Roman Catholic Biblical Scholars Helped Translate the New Common English Bible (B&B Media Group)
• Common English Bible