English: fall asleep; die<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wpmu3.northcentralus.cloudapp.azure.com\/nlt\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/07\/NLT_SquareSocialPosts_01-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThe verb koima\u014d<\/em> is used eighteen times in the New Testament. The literal meaning of the word is \u201cto fall asleep.\u201d An example of this usage is found in Luke 22:45, where Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane: \u201cAt last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep<\/strong><\/span>, exhausted from grief.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n Similarly, the verb is used with this literal meaning in Acts 12:6: \u201cThe night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep<\/strong>, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in most instances in the New Testament, this word is used as a euphemism for dying. So Bible translators must determine whether to translate the term literally\u2014allowing the euphemism to stand in the English text\u2014or to translate the meaning of the euphemism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The translation philosophy adopted by many English Bible translations is to render the original language texts literally or \u201cword for word.\u201d For example, the publisher of the English Standard Version calls the ESV an \u201cessentially literal\u201d translation. So generally, they translate metaphors and euphemisms literally, which allows English readers to see the terminology that was used in the original context. Accordingly, the ESV translates koima<\/em>\u014d<\/em> as \u201cfall asleep\u201d or \u201cslept\u201d in nearly every instance that koima<\/em>\u014d<\/em> is used\u2014either literally or as a euphemism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, the New International Version usually renders the euphemistic use of koima<\/em>\u014d <\/em>as \u201cfall asleep\u201d or \u201cslept.\u201d For instance, when Stephen comes to the end of his sermon before the religious leaders and sees the heavens opened, the NIV allows the euphemistic use of koima<\/em>\u014d<\/em> to come through with a literal rendering:<\/p>\n\n\n While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, \u201cLord Jesus, receive my spirit.\u201d Then he fell on his knees and cried out, \u201cLord, do not hold this sin against them.\u201d When he had said this, he fell asleep<\/strong>. <\/em>(Acts 7:59-60; emphasis added)<\/p>\n\n\n The NLT, on the other hand, consistently translates koima\u014d<\/em> as \u201cdie\u201d or \u201cdied\u201d when it is used as a euphemism. For example, here\u2019s Acts 7:59-60 in the NLT:<\/p>\n\n\n As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, \u201cLord Jesus, receive my spirit.\u201d He fell to his knees, shouting, \u201cLord, don\u2019t charge them with this sin!\u201d And with that, he died<\/strong><\/span>. (emphasis added)<\/p>\n\n\n In a section of Paul\u2019s teaching in 1 Thessalonians 4, the word koima<\/em>\u014d<\/em> is used repeatedly as a euphemism. And again, the NLT renders the meaning to which the euphemism points rather than translating the euphemism literally. But note the footnotes (marked in the text with an asterisk), which help the reader also see a more literal rendering of the text:<\/p>\n\n\n 13 <\/sup><\/strong>And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died<\/strong>* so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 <\/sup><\/strong>For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died<\/strong>. 15 <\/sup><\/strong>We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.<\/strong>* (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15; emphasis added)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wpmu3.northcentralus.cloudapp.azure.com\/nlt\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2022\/04\/Untitled-design-2022-04-06T112657.662-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wpmu3.northcentralus.cloudapp.azure.com\/nlt\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/08\/Untitled-design-2021-08-05T130109.645-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n