Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 36:4 (Autumn 2022)
Article: Book Review Valiant Or Virtuous? Gender Bias In Bible Translation By Author Suzanne Mccarthy And Eds. Jay Frankel, Christy Hayhoe, And Ruth Hayhoe (Wipf And Stock, 2019)
Author: Michaela Miller

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Book Review
Valiant Or Virtuous? Gender Bias In Bible Translation By Author Suzanne Mccarthy And Eds. Jay Frankel, Christy Hayhoe, And Ruth Hayhoe (Wipf And Stock, 2019)

Michaela Miller

Michaela Miller earned a master’s degree in New Testament from Emmanuel Christian Seminary and studied linguistics, translation, and intercultural studies at Johnson University, both in eastern Tennessee. She is affiliated with the American Saddlebred industry, both as a competitor and as an equine physical therapist.

In the last years of her life, Suzanne McCarthy dedicated herself to offering a helpful and accessible text on the sometimes-complicated topic of gender and Bible translation. She passed away in 2015 as this book neared completion, and members of her family brought it to completion and publication.1

McCarthy approaches this important matter from an egalitarian perspective in a systematic and thorough way, addressing not only the biblical text but also the history behind many translation trends. While she presents a significant amount of technical information, readers with or without academic training in biblical studies or Bible translation will find this book understandable and informative.

Section 1: Gender Attributes

Valiant or Virtuous? Gender Bias in Bible Translation is organized into four distinct sections, the first being Gender Attributes. McCarthy dedicates four chapters to this discussion, each addressing a different adjective used for both men and women throughout the Bible. She notes that the same descriptors are often translated differently for men and women, providing a detailed survey of each word and its usage. In these chapters, rather than only offering a list of where each word appears in the biblical text, McCarthy provides a wealth of background material that illuminates the historical development of translation practices and traditions regarding each term. While her treatment of the biblical

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text is thorough, she broadens her study to include other historical texts and languages, introducing further insights to support her arguments for equality in translation.

In ch. 1, McCarthy explains that the Hebrew word chayil is classically translated “strong” or “valiant” in relation to men but is almost exclusively translated “virtuous” or “excellent” in relation to women (4–5). She goes on to provide historical background, surveying varying translations, ancient and modern, and building the case for truly “valiant” women. Chapter 2 includes a similar treatment of the Hebrew word commonly translated “beautiful.”