"Where moth and rust doth corrupt"

(Matt. 6:19, 20)—The verb which is translated "corrupt" in these two verses has the literal meaning of "to cause to vanish away," "to consume or destroy." Moffatt suggests: "corrode"; while Weymouth (Fifth Edition) prefers to render in verse 19: "where the moth and wear-and-tear destroy."

"Being evil" (Matt. 7:11)—The Greek term "poneros" has the literal meaning of "full of labor" (ponos), but came to be used to mean "servile" and eventually "bad" or "evil." Goodspeed translates: "bad as you are," evidently taking "poneros" (evil) as contrasted with the "good gifts," mentioned in the same verse; though Weymouth prefers: "imperfect as you are."

"In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1)—As an alternative rendering to "in the beginning" Weymouth suggests: "before all time"; while Plummer observes, " 'In the beginning' here equals 'before the world was,' John 17:5," and contends that the reference is to "eternity, transcending time."

"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3)—The Greek preposition which is here translated "by" can also mean "through"; while the term rendered "without" may be alternatively translated "apart from." Thus Moffatt suggests: "Through him all existence came into being, no existence came into being apart from him;" while the Twentieth Century New Testament has: "Through him all things came into being, and nothing came into being apart from him."

"That it should not be removed for ever" (Ps. 104:5)—A more literal translation of the Hebrew verb would be, "be shaken" or "moved." Compare the sixteenth century Genevan Version, which had: "so that it shall never move;" and also the rendering of Dr. Moffatt: "never to be shaken."

"The counsel of the Lord ... the thoughts of his heart" (Ps. 33:11)—The word here rendered "counsel" is sometimes used in the sense of "purpose or design," while an alternative translation of the Hebrew word "machsheboth" (translated "thoughts" in verse 11, but "devices" in verse 10) is "plans." Moffatt has: "The Eternal's purpose stands for ever, and what he plans will last from age to age;" while Kent suggests: "Jehovah's counsel standeth forever, the plans of his mind from all generations."

"Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord" (Prov. 2:5)—It will be recalled that "the fear of the Lord" and "the fear of God" are phrases often employed in the Old Testament as virtual synonyms for "reverence," "piety," or even "true religion." Smith suggests: "Then will you understand reverence for the Lord;" while Kent has: "You shall then understand true religion."

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly" (Ps. 1:1)—The Hebrew preposition which is translated "in" at this point often means "by," while it was also used in the sense of "thanks to" and again "because of." In this verse Moffatt translates: "Happy the man who never goes by the advice of the ungodly, who never takes the sinners' road;" while the following rendering has also been suggested: "Happy the man who does not follow the advice of the godless."

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places" (Ps, 16:6)—The Hebrew word "chebel" often meant "line" (in the sense of a "measuring line"), but the sense was extended in many instances so as to include the piece of ground which could be enclosed or measured off by the use of the "line." As a consequence we find that "chebel" often designates a "measured portion, part or region," and then, in a metaphorical sense, "lot" or "portion." Moffatt suggests the rendering: "Fair prospects are allotted me."

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace" (Isa. 52:7)—It is of interest to note that an almost identical exclamation had been uttered by the prophet Nahum some six decades before the composition of this portion of the book of Isaiah (see Nahum 1:15). The word rendered "peace" in these and numerous other Old Testament passages implied more than "peace" in the familiar modern sense of the term, for to the Hebrews it meant "safety," "prosperity," and "health," as well as "welfare," "security," and "friendship."

"They shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion" (Isa. 52:8)—It may be observed that the phrase which is here translated "bring again Zion" could also be rendered "return to Zion." Thus while Smith translates: "for eye to eye they shall see, when the Lord restores Zion," Moffatt prefers the rendering: "They see the Eternal face to face as he returns to Sion."

"The Lord hath made bare his holy arm" (Isa. 52:10)—The "arm," as it is used in the Bible in a metaphorical sense, has been well described as "an expressive emblem of power to direct, control, seize, overcome." Consequently, the expression "make bare the arm" suggests preparation for direct action, and is virtually equivalent to "display or exhibit power." Moffatt suggests the rendering: "All nations have seen the Eternal bare his sacred arm for action."