Article July 26, 1941 Issue

Bible Notes

[The Biblical citations given in the Christian Science Quarterly are from the Authorized King James Version. The Bible Notes in this column can be used, if deemed necessary, to elucidate some of the words or passages contained in the Bible Lessons. The Notes in this issue are related to the Lesson-Sermon designated to be read in Christian Science churches on August 3, 1941.]

"The Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he" (Jer. 31:11)—It would appear that in the phrase "hath redeemed" the prophet is making use of what is called the "prophetic perfect" tense; that is, he sees the future deliverance of his people so clearly that he chooses to write of it as something which has already happened. It is natural to apply the promise in this verse, if taken literally, to the future deliverance of Jacob (Israel) from exile in Babylon.

"They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord" (Jer. 31:12)—The Hebrew verbal form here rendered "flow" can alternatively be derived from a root meaning "shine" or "be radiant," and for that reason Smith renders: "They shall come and be jubilant on the height of Zion, they shall be radiant at the goodness of the Lord." Similarly, Moffatt has: "So they shall gather singing on the heights of Sion, all radiant over the Eternal's bounty."

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