The J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Copyright and Usage Information Joseph B. Rotherham first began to publish his EMPHASIZED BIBLE in 1868 and completed his work in 1902. In a four chapter "An Expository Introduction to the Emphasized Bible" Mr. Rotherham discusses the objective underlying his work and the necessary "issues" any scholar undertaking such a task must deal with. The chapters are titled: (1) The Special Features Of This Translation, (2) Concerning Emphasis As Authoritatively Indicated In The Holy Scriptures, (3) The Original Texts, and (4) The Incommunicable Name. Along with the four chapters in his Expository Introduction, Mr. Rotherham includes three Tables: Table I, Transliteration of Hebrew Characters Into English; Table II: Abbreviations In The Notes To "The Emphasized Old Testament;" Table III: Signs of Emphasis. A separate Preface with related features introduces the New Testament.
THIS "electronic" version of Rotherham's Emphasized Bible does not provide a "one-for-one" transposition of Mr. Rotherham's printed page, as set forth in Rotherham's Emphasized Bible. Mr. Rotherham used "markers" to distinguish various levels of (oral, verbal) "stress" to be given to words and phrases and "visual indentation" to show logical analysis and poetic parallelism. The present (electronic/technical) programming limitations of the Online Bible does not (yet) allow for the display of the "visual structure" of a page. To attempt to add all of Mr. Rotherham's "visual markers" without placing them in their visual (structural) "context" was deemed unsuitable (in view of these programming limitations), and as adding to the appearance of clutter to a (textual) page that is not "visually structured."
It was deemed, nevertheless, worthwhile to go forward with this translation (in its present format) with the hope that THE TRANSLATION ITSELF would be "profitable for finding out the sense of the Scriptures" (Augustine of Hippo, as quoted by John R. Kohlenberger III in his Forward to Rotherham's Emphasized Bible).
The method of transformation of the printed page to the electronic page of this electronic edition of Rotherham's Bible was as follows:
After scanning and OCRing, ALL "markers" were stripped from the text. All capitalization that aided the "visual structure", but did not necessarily require a capital, was reverted to its original form. In the place of a "marker" indicating a strong or weak "stress" a "comma" was used. (Mr. Rotherham developed his scheme of "markers" to prevent the overuse of the "comma.") Given current programming limitations, this foreseen problem of the overuse of the comma by Mr. Rotherham could not be avoided -- IF some form of EMPHASISES envisioned by Mr. Rotherham was to be retained, the comma had to be used. Because of this (over)use of the "comma", the reading of the text may appear in places to be "choppy" or difficult. It is suggested, for the more "in-depth" scholar, that the actual text be purchased from Kregel Publications (Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI, 49501) for comparison and analysis.
The following features of Mr. Rotherham's text have been altered:
ITALICS were used by Mr. Rotherham in the New Testament to identify Old Testament quotations. Italics were used in the Old Testament to identify recurring phrases or restrains. In this electronic edition, words added by the translator appear as ITALICS. Old Testament recurring phrases or restrains or New Testament quotations of the Old Testament are not identified.
SINGLE BRACKETS were used by Mr. Rotherham ( [ ] ) to identify an italicized word. In this electronic edition, single brackets ( [ ] ) enclose words with respect to which ancient authorities are not unanimous.
DOUBLE BRACKETS were used by Mr. Rotherham ( [[ ]] ) to enclose words regarded by the Greek Editors as interpolations, but which for some reason they preferred not to remove from the Text.
Notwithstanding the limitations of this electronic edition as not conforming to Rotherham's objective and purpose, the decision was made that the translation itself (devoid of the "markers" and "visual structure" envisioned by Mr. Rotherham to aid in the discerning and understanding of the beauty of the original text,) should be set forward as an aid for study, with the hope that it might be found of use to Bible scholars and students.
May the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Lord Jesus Christ, through His Spirit, be pleased to bless even this setting forth of His Word, through this translation and edition, to the Salvation of souls and the edification of His saints.
Larry Nelson
December 31, 1999
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