THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE. THE REVISED VERSION OF THE BY J. C. WATTS, D.D. (Second Paper.) (2) HELPS TO READERS.-The Revised Version furnishes innumerable aids to a better understanding of the ancient Scriptures :(a) In the correction of previous mis-translations. (b) In clearer renderings of passages heretofore obscure. (c) In the special attention which has been given to the true representation of the Hebrew tenses. As in the New Testament, so in the Old, there was much room for improvement in this respect. Professor Driver has ably expounded the tense-force of Hebrew verbalisms. The Revisers might have carried their scrupulous care in this matter a little further in such instances as Psalm xxii. 30, where they have made no change, and Gen. xxxviii. 25, where they have failed to give the inceptive force of the participle .(mootsēth) מוּצֵאת (d) In the more exact translation of proper names. (e) In particular care regarding geographical details. In this respect Sir George Grove and Dean Stanley have rendered, through their works, valuable aid to the Revisers, especially in the Book of Joshua. The new Bible is thus more pictorial. Its local colouring is well given as in such terms as the "lowlands," "bare heights" (Isa. xli. 18), "in the Arabah" (Deut. i. 7). (f) In much precision in technical matters-such as the skilful manner in which the carpentering details of the Tabernacle and the Temple have been dealt with; nautical terms; archæological details; sartorial particulars (Isa. iii. 18-24), yet instead of the more correct "long-sleeved tunic," the Revisers have gratified August, 1885. 29 VOL. LXXXVIII. thousands of fond mothers by refusing to strip Joseph of his "coat of many colours" (Gen. xxxvii. 23). (g) By dropping most of those obsolescisms and archaisms, which are unintelligible even to men of fair education. Hence unicorn becomes the wild ox; cockatrice, the basilisk; dragons are more readily recognised as jackals; yet we do not think that Nephelim will be better understood than giants; Azazel, than scapegoat; Sheol, than hell; nor Dammasek Eliezer than Eliezer of Damascus; neither can we comprehend how it is that amerce, conversant, astonied, fats, Kab, occurrent, ouches, satyr, sith, tired, sons of Belial, &c., should still be retained-the last word being sometimes translated "base fellows," and at other times, with singular inconsistency, rendered as a Proper name, which it is not. Look at a few passages upon which this Revision throws fresh light. GENESIS iv. 15.-" And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him." Numerous have been the conjectures what this mark upon the body of Cain might be. The Revised Version reads: "The Lord appointed a sign for Cain "not "put a mark upon him," but gave him a token to allay his fear of assassination. GENESIS iv. 23.-" Lamech said... I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.'' This is part of the oldest poem in the world, sung to celebrate the invention of edgetools, of the sword and the spear. But the allusion was mysterious. The Revisers intimate that it was homicide in self-defence: 'I have slain a man for wounding me; And a young man for bruising me." . GENESIS iv. 21 and PSALM cl.-We find no longer organ," but "pipe." This will greatly please the majority of our Christian brethren north of the Tweed, who have an unaccountable horror of "the kist o' whistles." EXODUS XV. 2.—"He is my God, 'and I will prepare Him a habitation," is greatly improved by the correct rendering. "This is my God, and I will praise Him." EXODUS xvi. 15.-" And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was." This is a contradiction. How could they name it, if they knew not what it was? But in the Revised Version the difficulty is removed. They said one to another, What is it? for they wist not what it was." The Hebrew word for, "What?" is 12 (man), and hence from this cry, "What is it?" the bread from heaven was called “man,” or manna." 66 NUMBERS XXI. 14-20 is a capital instance of improved translation |