Jerome’s Letter to Pammachius (342–347 AD)

 “On the Best Method of Translating”

I present here Jerome’s letter to Pammachius in Latin and English. The Latin text is from the edition of J. P. Migne, Patrologia Latina, Vol. 22 (Paris, 1859), which I have corrected in one place. In § 5 Migne’s edition has the typographical error κακοξηλίαν for κακοζηλίαν in the sentence “Quam vos veritatem interpretationis, hanc eruditi κακοζηλίαν nuncupant.” It does not otherwise purport to be a critically emended text. The English translation and notes are by W.H. Fremantle, from A Select Library of Nicene and post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, second series, vol. 6 (New York, 1893). For a discussion of the relationship between this letter and Jerome’s work on the Latin translation of the Bible see my article on the Literal Character of the Vulgate.

Michael Marlowe
September 2010

See link below:

https://www.bible-researcher.com/jerome.pammachius.html

St. Jerome's major contribution to the field of translation is his introduction of the terms word-for-word and sense-for-sense. These two terms were later to be adopted by many translators, opening the heated debates in the coming centuries. Though the terms dated back to Cicero and Horace, St. Jerome is still credited for kindling the argument.

https://biblehub.com/library/jerome/the_principal_works_of_st_jerome/letter_lvii_to_pammachius_on.htm

Here are the exact words from the Jerome's letter that directly express Jerome’s “sense-for-sense” translation principle. 

1. The key statement itself (§5):
“I render sense for sense and not word for word.”

2. Jerome citing Cicero’s same principle:
“I have not deemed it necessary to render word for word but I have reproduced the general style and emphasis. I have not supposed myself bound to pay the words out one by one to the reader but only to give him an equivalent in value.”

3. Jerome on the impossibility of literal translation:
“If I render word for word, the result will sound uncouth…”

4. Jerome in his earlier preface to Eusebius’ Chronicle (quoted here):
“It is difficult… to preserve in a translation the charm of expressions which in another language are most felicitous… If I render word for word, the result will sound ridiculous.”

5. Jerome on his translation of the Life of Antony:
“My version always preserves the sense although it does not invariably keep the words of the original. Leave others to catch at syllables and letters, do you for your part look for the meaning.”