Impale in the NWT

In 1950, the New World Translation was released which, in the spirit of being accurate and open-minded, employed “impaled” instead of the traditional “crucified.” However, this word has always included an unintended meaning of running a stake through a person. Thus, the 2013 Revised New World Translation Appendix A2: Features of This Revision, admits the following concerning the translation choice of “impale”:

The English verb “impale” was used in previous versions of this Bible in connection with the execution of Jesus. While this term could refer to the way that Jesus was nailed to the torture stake, it is more often used in reference to the ancient method of execution by running a sharp stake through the body and fixing the victim on it. Since Jesus was not impaled with the torture stake, this revision uses such expressions as “executed on a stake” and “nailed to the stake” with regard to the manner in which Jesus was fastened to the torture stake.—Matthew 20:19; 27:31, 35. (italics original) https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070202 (First bullet, last paragraph.)

The Roman impalement stake was specifically called a stipes in Latin. Thus, as the Romans also practiced rectal impaling on a stake (which Jesus thankfully did not experience), I applaud its removal for clarity. May we ever continue to humbly smooth-out translation choices and not cower from making further emendations to our RNWT “in order to touch the heart of today’s reader.” (Appendix A2, second paragraph.)

Thus, we should also conform to this usage and refrain from saying that our Lord Jesus Christ was impaled. Frankly, that sounds horribly confusing.


Related news, released the same day as this posting!

• Ring of Roman Governor Pontius Pilate Who Crucified Jesus Found in Herodion Site in West Bank
  www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-ring-of-roman-governor-pontius-pilate-who-executed-jesus-found-in-herodion-site-1.6699353

Humor: The 2013 movie Frozen illustrated the unintended meaning of “impaled” of running a stake through a person when the snowman Olaf was run-though by an icicle. He said: “Oh look at that, I’ve been impaled.” (This movie was released a month after the 2013 RNWT.)

Appendix

In the Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching video entitled “Conversational Manner,” a public speaker is first shown reading instead of speaking. This is because “he was reading from an older issue of The Watchtower.” (Minute-marker 2:44) The “older issue” he was reading from is from 1989. In reading it, he had to make a couple of adjustments for his audience to use current vocabulary:

At the impalement of Jesus in 33 C.E., it hardly looked possible that he could have a kingdom at all. But in his preaching of the Kingdom of God, he had not been a proclaimer of erroneous news. On the third day after his impalement, the Founder of the Kingdom made sure that the disciples of Jesus would not be offering up prayer for a government that was not possible. Jehovah resurrected the One who was to represent Him in the prayed-for Kingdom and clothed him with immortality. (8/15 p. 13 par. 16 Opening Up the Way Back to Paradise)

The adjustments made are to the underlined text:

When Jesus was nailed to the stake in 33 C.E., it hardly looked possible that he could have a kingdom at all. But in his preaching of the Kingdom of God, he had not been a proclaimer of erroneous news. On the third day after his death, the Founder of the Kingdom made sure that the disciples of Jesus would not be offering up prayer for a government that was not possible. Jehovah resurrected the One who was to represent Him in the prayed-for Kingdom and clothed him with immortality.

Then, when putting this material in his own words, the first part was changed again to: “For when he died in 33 C.E.” (3:09) This change shows that we no longer use “impaled” or “impalement” for Jesus. It also shows that we still shy away from using the word for “nailed to a stake”: “crucified.”

www.jw.org/en/publications/videos/reading-teaching-videos/2-conversational-manner-video/