Article October 16, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"The Lord is the strength of my life" (Ps. 27:1)—The Hebrew word translated "strength" in this verse can also mean "a place of safety," and so "a fortress or refuge" (cf. Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 732). Consequently, Smith prefers to translate: "The Lord is the refuge of my life;" and Moffatt: "The Eternal is the fortress of my life;" while the Septuagint Version had: "the defender."

"The valley of the shadow of death" (Ps. 23:4)—The rather unusual Hebrew word "tsalmaweth," which is here translated "shadow of death," can also mean "deep shadow, deep darkness" or "terror" (compare Feyerabend: Hebrew Dictionary; and Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 853). Consequently, Smith renders: "the darkest valley"; and Moffatt: "a glen of gloom;" while Kent has: "the valley of gloom."

"A lively hope" (I Pet, 1:3)—The word rendered "lively" is the regular Greek term for "living" (zosan). Consequently, Weymouth (5th edition) renders: "A living hope"; while Moffatt and Goodspeed have: "A life of hope."

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