Words of Current Interest

The words in this issue are related to the Lesson-Sermon in the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE QUARTERLY designated to be read in Christian Science churches on April 20, 1969.

Your heart shall live that seek God (Ps. 69:32)

Smith suggests the translation, "O you who seek God, let your heart revive!" and Moffatt, "Take heart, O worshippers of God."

Sing praise (Ps. 147:7)

Dummelow suggests the rendering "make melody."

Make an atonement for thyself, and for the people (Lev. 9:7)

The Hebrew word for "to make atonement" comes from the root kaphar, "to cover." The Hebrews seem to have felt that animal sacrifice was somehow equivalent to self-sacrifice, and the rite was regarded as providing a "covering" for their sins, putting them out of sight, or obliterating them.

He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second (Hebr. 10:9)

This literal translation is closely followed by Moffatt and Weymouth, who have, "He does away with the first in order to establish the second." Goodspeed prefers, "He is taking away the old to put the new in its place."

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (Hebr. 10:22)

The Greek word plerophoria can mean either "full assurance, most certain confidence," or simply "fulness, abundance." Thus while Moffatt has, "in absolute assurance of faith," the Revised Version reads, "In fulness of faith."

Tell us plainly (John 10:24)

The Twentieth Century New Testament offers a rendering more in accord with modern idiom: "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so frankly."

I and my Father are one (John 10:30)

The word for "my" is not represented in the Greek, hence the rendering "I and the Father are one" adopted by Weymouth and others. The word rendered "one" in this passage is the neuter hen, not the masculine heis, suggesting substance or quality rather than person. One might almost render, "I and the Father are at one."

I am meek and lowly in heart (Matt. 11:29)

In modern English, the word "meek" is often employed in a somewhat disparaging sense; but here it represents a Greek word which means, more exactly, "gentle." Thus The New English Bible has, "I am gentle and humble-hearted."

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