right or starboard?

Originally posted on May 27, 2009 – by Andre Piet

Written in response to an article in the Dutch Daily

A peculiar choice…

The New Bible Translation (NBV) has as its translation principle to be ‘target-language oriented’. Above all, its aim is to render the source text in clear Dutch. In John 21:6 it translates:

“Cast the net on the starboard side,” Jesus called out, “and you will be finding.”

Peculiar! Where the NBV reads ‘starboard’, in the Greek the ordinary word for ‘right’ appears (dexios; Str.1188). Why then does the NBV choose ‘starboard’ here? Is the word ‘right’ not clear? Is ‘starboard’ perhaps more understandable Dutch?
Does the NBV not here go against its own translation principle?

left and right

Judging by the choice for ‘starboard’, the translators apparently fail to notice that ‘right’ in the Bible (just as in our daily life) often has a deeper meaning and indicates ‘preference’. The Lord Jesus Christ was exalted at God’s right hand. The sheep were placed on the right and the goats on the left (Matt.25). Etc.. etc.. Just as ‘right’ is connected with ‘preference’ and ‘exaltation’, so ‘left’ speaks of ‘being set back’ and therefore also of ‘humiliation’. Compare also the English word ‘left’ which means ‘left’ but also ‘abandoned’. The Latin word for ‘left’ is ‘sinister’… In politics the left champions the disadvantaged.

typologically…

Back to John 21. During the night the disciples had caught nothing. Then Jesus appears in the morning (initially unrecognizable), on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias and advises the fishermen to cast the net on the right. The men follow the advice and they are not strong enough to be hauling it because of the multitude of fishes!
In type the night refers to the time that Jesus would be absent (see John 9:4!). Despite all activities, the great catch fails to appear. Until… the new morning begins and “the Sun of righteousness” rises. That is the moment when He who at first was not recognized will be manifested. Then the humiliation (>left!) is past and Israel will honorably and successfully (>right!) become active on the sea of nations and bring in an unprecedented catch! Then and not earlier, the so-called Great Commission (“be discipling all the nations”) will actually be fulfilled.

conclusion

By making ‘right’ into ‘starboard’, the NBV not only sins against a sound translation principle, but it also obscures the deeper meanings of the history.
A tricky business…

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