Article July 25, 1936 Issue

Bible Notes

"He that seeth me seeth him that sent me" (John 12:45)—It may be noted that the particular Greek verb which is here rendered "see," though it often refers to physical vision, can also mean "to discern," "to view mentally, consider" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 289f.).

"I have not spoken of myself" (John 12:49)—The Greek preposition employed in this phrase does not mean "of" in the sense of "about" or "concerning," but in its more archaic meaning of "from or out of," or, as one might express it in modern English: "I have not spoken on my own responsibility." Consequently, the Twentieth Century New Testament has: "I have not delivered it on my own authority;" and Moffatt: "I have not spoken of my own accord;" and the Revised Version: "I spake not from myself." Similarly, Goodspeed renders: "I have not spoken on my account."

"The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deut. 6:4)—The construction of the Hebrew at this point is very condensed, and for that reason there is some difficulty in presenting its exact equivalent in English. The margin of the Revised Version offers as possible alternative translations: "The Lord our God, the Lord is one;" "The Lord is our God, the Lord is one;" and, "The Lord is our God, the Lord alone." Moffatt suggests: "The Eternal, the Eternal alone, is our God;" while the rendering found in "The Authorized Daily Prayer-Book of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire" (p. 8) is: "The Lord, our God, the Lord is one."

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