Article June 26, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?" (Ps. 89:8)—In the original Hebrew the phrase rendered "a strong Lord" follows "who is like unto thee," and is similar in appearance to a word meaning "thy lovingkindness." Moffatt evidently concludes that the latter word formed the original reading; hence his translation: "Who can compare with thee, in all thy love and faithfulness?"

"The light of thy countenance" (Ps. 89:15)—The Hebrew term "panim" has the literal meaning of "face" or "countenance," but has in addition many figurative uses, such as "presence, person, regard, favour" (cf. Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 816); while the word "or" (light) can mean "light of day, sunshine" (op. cit., p. 21). Consequently we could render: "The sunshine of thy presence." Compare Moffatt's translation: "The sunshine of thy favour."

"In thy favour our horn shall be exalted" (Ps. 89:17)—Among the early Hebrews the "horn" was regarded as a symbol of power, and as a consequence "to exalt one's horn" was virtually equivalent to "to increase (or heighten) one's power or prestige." Thus we find Moffatt offering the rendering: "Thanks to thy favour, our honour is high." Briggs renders: "By thy favour Thou exaltest our horn," and adds by way of comment, "the horn of the nation, its honour and dignity in their king" (Commentary on Psalms: Vol. II, p. 258).

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