| Luke 1:38 DRV | Luke 1:38 NIV |
|---|---|
| And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” | “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” |
Why is this change important?
Servants are male and handmaids are female. The DRV faithfully translates the Latin Vulgate, “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum”. This also causes an generational disconnect because the Latin word “fiat” has been in use in this context for generations. Countless times in historical literature Mary’s “fiat” is discussed. In English, Fiat, means “be it done” or “let it be done”. In the NIV “May your word to me be fulfilled” introduces a fog over the clear understanding or text as understood by our ancestors.