Article December 25, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"My deliverer" (II Sam. 22:2)—A more literal rendering of the Hebrew would be: "My deliverer, mine"; and so the Revised Version suggests: "My deliverer, even mine;" and Moffatt has: "My deliverer—he is mine."

"The God of my rock" (II Sam. 22:3)—As is well known, the earliest Hebrew manuscripts were written without the use of vowels, and, translating from the original consonantal text, one can read either: "the God of my rock" (as here), or, "my God, my Rock," according to the vowels which he presupposes. Hence, Smith has: "my God, my rock;" and Moffatt: "my God, my fortalice."

"As for God, his way is perfect; ... he maketh my way perfect" (II Sam. 22:31, 33)—In these verses use is made of the Hebrew word "tamim" (perfect)—a word which is capable of a wide variety of meanings and could also be translated "complete, healthful, sound, wholesome, blameless or innocent" (cf. Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 1071); while Kent takes it as meaning "without physical or moral blemish." The Septuagint translates: "As for the Mighty One, his way is blameless. ... He has prepared my way without fault;" while Moffatt has: "God is unerring in his ways. ... God is a perfect guide to me." Smith suggests: "The way of God is blameless ... he makes my way blameless."

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