Why does the RSV do this?

[Mattjolley]

Why do RSV bible versions always have names written like this: ‘Nicode’mus’?

I don’t see why names like this need apostrophes? No other bible has them as far as I’m aware! Can anyone exlain why? Is it just to aid pronunciation?

Matt

 

[MH84]

Yes that’s what I always presumed. I like them actually, because not only are some names are very difficult to pronounce, but there often seems to be multiple ways one could pronounce them.

 

[EphelDuath]

Pronunciation marks. The KJV version also has it, which is good for Bible study when you’re reading passages aloud, but it does get on my nerves.

 

[po18guy]

Why do RSV bible versions always have names written like this: ‘Nicode’mus’?

I don’t see why names like this need apostrophes? No other bible has them as far as I’m aware! Can anyone exlain why? Is it just to aid pronunciation?

Matt

The mark places the accent on the preceding syllable. It is pronounced: NicoDEmus.

Christ’s peace.

 

[lak611]

Pronunciation marks. The KJV version also has it, which is good for Bible study when you’re reading passages aloud, but it does get on my nerves.

I have a KJV that gives all the pronunciation marks. Here is how that name is printed in my KJV: Nĭc-ŏ-dē΄-mŭs.

 

[Crumpy]

I just finished reading Deuteronomy (in fact the first five books of the bible plus job) and I am ‘used’ to those pronunciation marks. Even when I’m reading silently, I pronounce the words to myself.

I want to look how the word Capernaum is pronounced.

I see that Catholics pronounce it like this: cap’ er naum.

whereas a lot of protestants pronounce it ca per’ nay uhm.

I think that the latter is probably more correct. I think the English diphthong ‘au’ is misleading; it is probably not pronounced as a single syllable, but as two. I think Spanish is like that, too, where every letter is pronounced (no silent letters or such).

 

[lak611]

I want to look how the word Capernaum is pronounced.

I see that Catholics pronounce it like this: cap’ er naum.

whereas a lot of protestants pronounce it ca per’ nay uhm.

I think that the latter is probably more correct. I think the English diphthong ‘au’ is misleading; it is probably not pronounced as a single syllable, but as two. I think Spanish is like that, too, where every letter is pronounced (no silent letters or such).

I wonder if the pronunciation difference of Capernaum is because of UK English versus US English. It just so happens that the KJV I own with the pronunciation marks is published in the UK by Cambridge. Similarly, my RSV-CE is the Scepter version, originally prepared by the Catholic Biblical Association of Great Britain. Both the KJV and the RSV-CE show the same pronunciation marks for Capernaum. I am not showing them here, since I would have to open up Word in order to insert the symbols and then copy and paste. I have never seen a Bible that was originally published or prepared in the USA that has pronunciation marks. I am inclined to think differences in pronunciation are due to differences between UK and US English, not due to Protestant or Catholic faith.

 

[Mattjolley]

Lak611, may I ask which Sceptre RSV you own? their website lists a compact one, and a normal sized one, but the picture of the normal one isnt very useful, was just wondering what its like as I may get one. im assuming the compact one is similar to the one oxford also publishes? their pictures look similar anyway, thats the oxford readers edition and the sceptre compact. any help would be great, from anyone who has these versions!

PS is it the original RSV that uses 'thee’s and ‘thous’? as in, the version both sceptre and oxford use?
Or the ‘ignatius’ first edition? (I belive it has a blue cover nbowadays?)
Those compact ignatius bibles, do they have thees and thous, then?

Matt

 

[lak611]

Lak611, may I ask which Sceptre RSV you own? their website lists a compact one, and a normal sized one, but the picture of the normal one isnt very useful, was just wondering what its like as I may get one. im assuming the compact one is similar to the one oxford also publishes? their pictures look similar anyway, thats the oxford readers edition and the sceptre compact. any help would be great, from anyone who has these versions!

PS is it the original RSV that uses 'thee’s and ‘thous’? as in, the version both sceptre and oxford use?
Or the ‘ignatius’ first edition? (I belive it has a blue cover nbowadays?)
Those compact ignatius bibles, do they have thees and thous, then?

Matt

This is the one I have. It is the normal one, not the compact edition. This is the original RSV-CE with the Nihil Obstat by Thomas Hanlon, S.T.L., L.S.S., Ph.L. and Imprimatur by +Gordon Joseph Gray, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Epiphany 1966.

The “thees and thous” are primarily confined to the Psalms. This Bible does not have “thees and thous” everywhere like the Douay-Rheims or King James. I find it very readable.

 

[MH84]

I just finished reading Deuteronomy (in fact the first five books of the bible plus job) and I am ‘used’ to those pronunciation marks. Even when I’m reading silently, I pronounce the words to myself.

I want to look how the word Capernaum is pronounced.

I see that Catholics pronounce it like this: cap’ er naum.

whereas a lot of protestants pronounce it ca per’ nay uhm.

I think that the latter is probably more correct. I think the English diphthong ‘au’ is misleading; it is probably not pronounced as a single syllable, but as two. I think Spanish is like that, too, where every letter is pronounced (no silent letters or such).

I was actually thinking about posting how “Capernaum” is pronounced too, and I was going to add it to my previous post here. What a coincedence!

Anyway, I seemed to think it was Ca per nee um (based on what Ive heard in last centuries biblical movies). Also, a protestant bible dictionary I have has it pronounced the same way.

However, I ve heard priests here who have said Caper’ nowm, or Cap er nem.

 

[Mattjolley]

This is the one I have. It is the normal one, not the compact edition. This is the original RSV-CE with the Nihil Obstat by Thomas Hanlon, S.T.L., L.S.S., Ph.L. and Imprimatur by +Gordon Joseph Gray, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Epiphany 1966.

The “thees and thous” are primarily confined to the Psalms. This Bible does not have “thees and thous” everywhere like the Douay-Rheims or King James. I find it very readable.

Thanks for your help…I’ll probably buy one. I have enough versions as it is, one more cant hurt the only thing that stops me isthe picture on their site isnt very good,but ill take the risk.

Matt