Article April 23, 1938 Issue

Bible Notes

"Seek peace, and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14)—The Hebrew word "shalom," here rendered "peace," possesses a wide variety of meanings, which include not only "peace," but also "completeness, soundness, welfare, prosperity, health, security, friendship, contentment" (Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 1022f.). Moffatt suggests: "Seek to be friendly—aim at that."

"None of them that trust in him shall be desolate" (Ps. 34:22)—Literally: "shall be held guilty" or "suffer punishment" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 79); while it may be noted that the verb rendered "trust" means more exactly "seek refuge" (ibid., p. 340). In consequence, Moffatt translates: "None who take shelter with him shall be punished;" Smith: "None who take refuge in him will be held guilty;" and the American Standard Version: "None of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned."

"He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise" (Job 5:12)—The Hebrew word here translated "enterprise" is an unusual term, of somewhat uncertain meaning, though it is usually taken as signifying "sound, efficient wisdom, abiding success;" and in this context the rendering "do not achieve abiding success" has been offered (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 444). Smith renders the verse: "who frustrate the plans of the crafty, so that their hands accomplish no success;" and Moffatt: "He foils the plots of wily men, till they win no success."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Christian Science has changed my whole life, and it is...