Translating נֶֶ֫פֶשׁ in the Psalms into Chinese--an exercise in intergenerational, literary Bible translation

Abstract

This dissertation explores the translation of the Hebrew term נֶפֶש (nephesh), traditionally rendered as "soul," in the Psalms into contemporary Chinese. The research focuses on how the misinterpretation and mistranslation of this word have impacted both Chinese and Western Christian communities, particularly within the framework of Watchman Nee’s theological views, which have had a significant influence on Chinese Christians. The study proposes an intergenerational approach to Bible translation, where children and adults work together to produce a Chinese version of the Psalms that is both theologically accurate and linguistically accessible to readers of all ages. By employing Wendland’s Literary Functional Equivalence (LiFE) approach, the research analyzes the possible meanings of נֶפֶש and evaluates its translation across prominent Chinese and English Bible versions. Through an extensive training process and collaborative translation effort, the study tests the hypothesis that an intergenerational Bible translation team can produce a readable and theologically sound Chinese version of the Psalms. The research provides new insights into how intergenerational ministry and child participation in Bible translation can foster greater engagement with Scripture while addressing longstanding translation challenges.