Gwilym Henry Jones's "Hen destament 1988: Cydymaith i'r Cyfieithiad Newydd" serves as an indispensable guide, illuminating the intricate linguistic and textual decisions behind the 1988 Welsh translation of the Old Testament. It emerges from the profound scholarship of Gwilym Henry Jones, a revered Hebraist and Old Testament scholar, whose academic life was dedicated to the rigorous study of ancient Hebrew texts and their interpretation.
Within these pages, the reader is invited to journey alongside the translator, gaining insight into the nuances that shaped the rendition of the sacred texts into modern Welsh. The companion volume meticulously addresses the significant alterations made in the new translation, offering explanations rooted deeply in the original Hebrew language and the textual traditions of the Old Testament. It is not merely a linguistic exercise but a scholarly endeavor to convey the precise meaning and theological weight of the ancient scriptures.
The author, a distinguished figure who once held the presidency of the Society for Old Testament Study, approaches this task from the perspective of a Hebraist, ensuring that the explanations are grounded in a profound understanding of the source language. This focus means that while the elegance of the Welsh translation is appreciated, the primary concern is with the fidelity to the Hebrew text and the scholarly rationale for each translational choice. The companion, therefore, becomes a bridge, connecting the Welsh reader directly to the ancient world of the Old Testament through the lens of meticulous Hebrew scholarship.
Each explanation offered within the volume sheds light on why certain words were chosen, why particular grammatical structures were adopted, or how textual variants influenced the final Welsh rendering. It delves into the complexities that lie beneath the surface of any translation, revealing the layers of interpretation and the careful deliberation involved in presenting the Old Testament anew to a Welsh-speaking audience. The work ensures that the reader not only understands what the new translation says but also *why* it says it in that particular way.
