Article May 23, 1936 Issue

Bible Notes

"They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy" (Jonah 2:8)—There is some uncertainty as to the correct form of the Hebrew word "chasdam," rendered "their own mercy." Thus Kittel (Biblia Hebraica) contends that originally the text included a word similar in appearance to "chasdam" but meaning "refuge or shelter" (cf. Feyerabend: Hebrew Dictionary: p. 147). Moffatt apparently accepts this emendation, for he translates: "Those who heed vain idols leave their real refuge;" though Smith prefers: "Those who heed false vanities forsake their piety."

"Their eyes stand out with fatness" (Ps. 73:7)—The Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate versions suggest that instead of the word translated "eyes," we read a term which in the Hebrew is practically indistinguishable from it but has the meaning of "iniquity" (Kittel: op. cit.; and Briggs: Psalms, Vol. II, p. 143), while it may be added that the verb rendered "stand out" has the primary meaning of "go out." Briggs (op. cit., p. 141) suggests: "Their iniquity doth come forth from fatness," adding the comment that "their fat gross mind and body breed iniquity."

"For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem" (Isa. 8:14)—The Hebrew word "pach," here translated "gin," is supposed in its liternal sense to have been "a trap made of bone and gut, with tongue and jaws on the principle of the modern rat trap." Hence Moffatt translates: "To the Jerusalemites he is a trap and snare;" and Smith: "A trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."

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