Strata: Milestones: Ronald F. Youngblood (1931–2014)

Ronald F. Youngblood, professor emeritus of Old Testament and Hebrew at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, who is perhaps best known for his work as a Bible translator, has died at age 82. He served on the team that translated the New International Version (NIV) Bible—using the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek documents. Its mission was to provide an easy, straightforward English text that reflected the everyday language of the 20th century. Today, more than three decades after it was published, the New International Version remains the best-selling English translation of the Bible.

Youngblood also wrote more than 20 books and served as president of the Near East Archaeological Society. He also contributed articles to Bible Review.^a

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, as well as by their children, Glen and Wendy, and grandchildren.