Article September 9, 1939 Issue

Bible Notes

"When the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall" (Isa. 25:4)—The word "against" is not represented in the original Hebrew text, and Smith suggests that the term here literally rendered "wall" was unintentionally substituted for a word meaning "winter," at some time in the early history of the text. Hence he prefers to translate: "When the breath of the ruthless is like a storm in winter."

"Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations" (Gen. 6:9)—The term "tsaddiq," here rendered "just," can also mean "righteous or right" (Brown, Driver, and Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 843), while the word "tamim" (perfect) is used in a wide variety of senses in Hebrew, including "complete, sound, healthful, innocent, having integrity" (ibid., p. 1071), as well as "perfect, faultless, without blemish, upright" (Harkavy: Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, p. 768). Smith translates: "Noah alone among his contemporaries was a pious and exceedingly good man;" Kent: "Noah was a righteous man, perfect among his contemporaries."

"The Lord God will come with strong hand" (Isa. 40:10)—The word "hand" is not represented in the Hebrew, but has been supplied by the translators to complete their concept of the meaning of the verse. However, when we recall that originally Hebrew was written down without the use of vowels, we are justified in reading "CHoZeK" (strength) instead of "CHaZaK" (strong), as did those who prepared the well-known Septuagint Version about the third century B.C., and who translate: "The Lord is coming with strength." Moffatt has: "Here is the Eternal coming in power;" while Smith renders: "... with might"; and Kent: "... in might."

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