Article September 16, 1939 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 which is rendered "a strong Lord" follows that which is translated "Who is ... like unto thee?" And it is closely similar in appearance to the word which means "thy loving-kindness." Dr. Moffatt apparently concludes that the latter word formed the original reading at this point, for he translates: "Who can compare with thee, in all thy love and faithfulness?" Smith prefers to render: "O Lord, God of hosts, Who is strong like thee, O Lord? and thy faithfulness is round about thee."

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne" (Ps. 89:14)—The Hebrew term which is here translated "habitation" means more literally "fixed or established place, foundation" (see Brown, Driver, and Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 467). Consequently Moffatt translates: "Thy throne rests upon equity and justice;" and Smith has: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne."

"God doeth it, that men should fear before him" (Eccl. 3:14)—In Hebrew the word "yare" is constantly employed in the sense of reverence, or awe, with the implication of respect, rather than of "fear" or "terror." The verse now under consideration is translated by Moffatt as follows: "God orders things, that men may stand in awe of him;" and Smith has: "God has ordained it that they shall be in awe before him;" while still another suggested rendering is: "God doeth it that we should stand in awe before him" (Brown, etc., op. cit., p. 431).

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