Barend van Zadelhoff Dec 13, 2011:

Joanna, I respect your choice and I don't care about to whom the points are going, but imo if you use 'kill off' you use a wrong translation and I would really regret this.

Apparently I was not able to convince you and you thought it unnecessary to consider my arguments, which are absolutely valid and sincere.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Schillebeeckx

L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen Dec 10, 2011:

Barend's comments... I agree 100% with all comments by Barend.

Barend van Zadelhoff Dec 10, 2011:

Hi W., Many thanks for your reply.

It is not just a question of (in)formality.
There is a difference between 'van kant maken' and 'afmaken'

However, perhaps we still could turn a blind eye to this difference but we can no longer do this when the overall context is considered:

You cannot say that the Jewish elite wanted 'to finish Him off', or something, but they certainly wanted to get rid of Him or something along that line of thought.

W Schouten Dec 10, 2011:

Hi Barend, I thought the text to be translated is in 'informal Dutch', and both 'van kant maken' and 'to finish off' or informal.

Barend van Zadelhoff Dec 10, 2011:

Apart from this, I don't think we can ignore the narrative/historical context in which Jesus' 'execution' took place. I mean, any translation offered, should at least not contradict narrative/historical elements.

Read this story carefully:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontius_Pilate

Again, this means to me that 'finish off' definitely is not the right expression, don't you agree, W.?

The Jewish elite wanted to get rid of Him because he told the truth, a truth that was convincing to too many people and a posed a threat to their (the elite's) image/reputation and, in the end, their peace of mind

Barend van Zadelhoff Dec 10, 2011:

"van kant maken" has no other meaning than to kill.
This seems to me too bold an assertion.
Every and any expression should be understood from the context in which it is found. Moreover, we not only need to take into account denotation but also connotation. (I mean, 'van kant maken' can be expressed/translated in numerous ways and 'van kant maken' can be understood in several ways depending on the context)

Should we want to go for a 'literal' translation then I find as a translation for 'van kant maken' several possibilities (vanDale):

dispose of (someone)
liquidate (someone)
do away with (someone)
do (someone) in
eliminate (someone)
lay out (someone)

"finish off" means in the first place 'afmaken' and NOT 'van kant maken' (LONGMAN: to kill a person or animal when they are already weak and wounded)
'afmaken' (vanDale) : slaughter, kill/finish off, dispatch, slay, butcher, burn, zap

If we wanted to choose a denotative translation for 'van kant maken' in this context, then I would go for an above-mentioned option that conveys the idea 'uit de weg ruimen', like:

dispose of, eliminate, do away with