Article April 27, 1935 ISSUE

Bible Notes

"By mercy and truth iniquity is purged" (Prov. 16:6)—The Hebrew word "chesed" can be rendered "mercy," as here and inPsalms 89:14, but the connotation of the term is much broader than is suggested by that single translation. In Psalms 89:33, and many other passages, the word "chesed" is translated "lovingkindness," while it also means "love, kindness, benevolence, good-will, favor, benefit, grace, piety, beauty" (see Feyera-bend: Hebrew Lexicon). It may be added that the term translated "iniquity" comes from a root which suggests "erring" or "wandering" from the true path (cf. Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p.730), and has sometimes been translated "perversity."

"Who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?" (Ps. 89:8)—In the original the phrase rendered "a strong Lord" follows "who is like unto thee," and is similar in appearance to a word meaning "thy lovingkindness" ("chesed"—cf. Prov. 16:6); and Moffatt concludes that the latter word formed the original reading—hence his translation: "Who can compare with thee, in all thy love and faithfulness?"

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