Translation of unseen material

Building Vocabulary for Unseen Translations

Dedicate regular time to vocabulary expansion. More words you know, smoother your translation process will be.
Develop a good understanding of root word structures - a key aspect of learning Biblical Hebrew. Recognising roots can help you decipher the meaning of words you haven’t encountered before.
Use flashcards or digital tools to aid memorisation of new words and their meanings.
Recognise that words often have multiple meanings based on their context. Be prepared to select the most appropriate meaning based on the broader passage.

Strive to understand verb forms in their Qal (simple), Niphal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, Hophal, and Hithpael stems. This will enrich your understanding and competence in translation.
Remember that verbs not only tell action but also indicate the actor (subject) and the acted upon (object). Ensure to correctly identify these elements in a sentence.
Understand verb tenses and moods (such as imperfect, perfect, imperative, jussive), and how they influence the meaning of a sentence.
Note that changes in verb forms can markedly shift meaning and tense. Be attentive to these subtle changes.

Practice understanding Biblical Hebrew’s unique sentence structure patterns, which typically follow Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) order.
Get comfortable with construct chains and their function in Hebrew sentences.
Pay special attention to prepositions, as misuse can alter the intended meaning.
Become familiar with the conjunction ‘waw’ which can carry various meanings (e.g., ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘then’, etc.). Its conversive usage can also change verb tense.

Understand how cultural and historical context can influence the proper translation of a text.
Remember that some Hebrew expressions don’t have direct equivalents in English, in such cases always aim for understanding the underlying thought or meaning.
Learn about common idioms and metaphors used in the Biblical Hebrew, as these can seem confusing if taken literally.

After completing a first pass of your translation, review and revise to improve fluidity and accuracy.
Utilise a dictionary and a grammar reference to check uncertain translations.
Practice thinking beyond a literal word-for-word translation. Instead, aim for a thought-for-thought translation to capture the original text’s meaning in a way that makes sense in English.