Article November 27, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"Let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation" (Isa. 45:8)—The Hebrew term "tsedeq," here rendered "righteousness," can also mean "justice, deliverance, victory, prosperity" (Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 842); while additional renderings of the word translated "salvation" are "deliverance, safety, welfare" (ibid., p. 447). Moffatt suggests: "Shower down victory, ye heavens, rain it from above, ye skies! Let earth's womb open for the birth of peace."

"Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth" (Isa. 45:9)—The Hebrew term here translated "potsherd" was the usual name which was applied to the earthenware utensils which the potter made from his clay. In view of the fact that the terms "let" and "strive" (which appear in our Common Version) are not represented in the original, the Revised Version and Kent are justified in giving the literal rendering: "a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth!" It may be added that the Hebrew word for "earth" is "adamah," which is generally considered as being the root of our word "Adam."

"I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways" (Isa. 45:13)—The Hebrew word translated "direct" has the primary meaning of "make smooth or straight," but it is also occasionally employed in the sense of "lead straight along," and so "direct" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 448). The rendering of the Revised Version is "make straight."