Looking for Job

[JLGJLG]

- In Genesis chapter 13, Abraham and Lot must separate because they have too many people and cattle for the land!

- We remember that Abraham is older than Lot!

- But he lets him choose the land he wants to go to!

- Not only that, Abraham chooses the countryside whereas Lot chooses the cities with many sinners!

- Abraham doesn’t want to be contaminated by the people!

- On the contrary, Lot chooses the bad cities!

- And Yah.weh makes a covenant with Abraham!

- His descendants will inherit the land of Canaan!

- But let’s put it right: it is only because of Abraham, nothing else!

- it is easy to understand what is faithfulness to Yah.weh!

- There is only one way, not two ways!

- Lot takes advantage of Abramham’s faithfulness to Yah.weh!

- But he will get into trouble!

- It is easy to understand the lesson!

- Only those who don’t want to understand don’t understand!

- But there is no excuse as usual!

- And there won’t be any excuse!

- It is always simple: so why men always make it difficult?

- Just a bad game!

- But in the end you only lose!

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

- When I write in English, I usually use Biblehub!

- I don't think there is a good translation of the Bible!

- It is always questionable!

- Why Biblehub!

- Simply because it is an interlinear and also a dictionary at the same time!

- About the second part of the Bible: I must keep repeating the same!

- Ancient Greek is probably the richest language in the world!

- It has nothing to do with Ancient Hebrew which is quite limited!

- With Ancient Hebrew a word can have different meanings!

- With Ancient Greek, the precision is extreme!

- So there is no good translation!

The ESV has been translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek of the Bible, whereas the NIV has veered away from the ancient manuscripts into political correctness. It used to be a good translation. I have learned both Greek and Hebrew and used them in preparing 27 years of sermons twice a Sunday, though a lot of the words have faded in my memory during the last 16 years since I retired.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

Erik said:

The story of the Tower of Babel is part of "our" "primordial history" (Genesis chapters 1-11), it is actually a collection of myths about the origin of the world, humanity and human culture - prior to the long story of the people of Israel, which begins with the forefather Abraham in Genesis 12 (originally Abram of Ur of Caldean (1813-1638 – married 1788))

But Chaldea is not believed to exist before about 1200 BC

Chaldea | Babylonian, Mesopotamian, Sumerian | Britannica

The Tower of Babel (build 1765 BC) is thus included as a motif in a mythical story about how humanity collectively sought to anchor their unity by founding a single city.

(1765 BC, is according to Chabad)


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-It is necessary to remember one essential point!

- It was a different time with different people and a different mentality!

- The Hebrew language is basic compared to Ancient Greek which is probably the richest language in the world!

- People usually forget that that's why the majority will never understand the Bible!

JLGJLG, are you quoting Britannica in the whole first part, and do you agree with that encyclopedia? Why do you use a secular encyclopedia in a Christian forum? The Bible's history is not in any sense myth or mythical. It is preaching, compressed history of the world from God's viewpoint through prophets and apostles.

 

[JLGJLG]

The ESV has been translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek of the Bible, whereas the NIV has veered away from the ancient manuscripts into political correctness. It used to be a good translation. I have learned both Greek and Hebrew and used them in preparing 27 years of sermons twice a Sunday, though a lot of the words have faded in my memory during the last 16 years since I retired.

- Good!

- But let me give you an example I gave before about Job 40:7!

- First let's have a look at different versions which are given in Biblehub!

New International Version
“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

New Living Translation
“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

English Standard Version
“Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

Berean Standard Bible
“Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

King James Bible
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

New King James Version
“Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

New American Standard Bible
“Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

NASB 1995
“Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

NASB 1977
“Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you make Me know.

Amplified Bible
“Now gird up your loins (prepare yourself) like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

Christian Standard Bible
Get ready to answer me like a man; When I question you, you will inform me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Get ready to answer Me like a man; When I question you, you will inform Me.

American Standard Version
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Contemporary English Version
Face me and answer the questions I ask!

English Revised Version
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Brace yourself like a man! I will ask you, and you will teach me.

Good News Translation
Now stand up straight and answer my questions.

International Standard Version
"Stand up like a man! I'll ask you some questions, and you give me some answers!

Majority Standard Bible
?Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

NET Bible
"Get ready for a difficult task like a man. I will question you and you will inform me!

New Heart English Bible
"Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou to me.

World English Bible
“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Now gird your loins as a man, "" I ask you, and you cause Me to know.

Young's Literal Translation
Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.

Smith's Literal Translation
Gird up now thy loins as a man; I will ask thee, and do thou make known to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Gird up thy loins like a man : I will ask thee, and do thou tell me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.

New American Bible
Gird up your loins now, like a man. I will question you, and you tell me the answers!

New Revised Standard Version
“Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Gird up your loins now like a man; I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Wrap now your loins as a mighty man. I shall ask you; teach me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Gird up thy loins now like a man; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Nay, gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.

 

[JLGJLG]

- Looking at all the different versions given, there is only one which mentions a small point, the others don't mention it!

- Many people will say it is not important!

- On the contrary, many people make the mistake about Job and and what Yah.weh thinks about him!

- So once again I will copy the main elements!

Job 38-40:

- Job has spoken and now he doesn’t want to say anything more!

- He is probably tired of defending himself!

- He knows he is nothing compared to God!

- But he knows he is not guilty!

- And yes, there is a time to speak and a time to shut his mouth!

- Can we think about situations where we don’t think it is necessary to defend oneself?

- Those who are against Job because of his attitude should read these verses again and again!

- Think about what Job has lived!

- He has been screaming for help to Yah.weh!

- And Yah.weh couldn’t answer because of what was on between him and the devil!

- And now he doesn’t want to speak anymore!

- Now let’s have a look at Job 40:7!

“Now (-na in Hebrew, it is here attached to the verb azr meaning belt you) brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.”

- See that Job doesn’t want to speak to Yah.weh anymore!

- And Yah.weh tells Job “I will question you”!

- BUT THERE IS SOMETHING A LOT MORE POWERFUL!

- EVEN IF THE MAJORITY OF TRANSLATIONS DON’T SAY IT!

- THUS MANY WON’T GET IT!

- AND THEY WILL KEEP SPEAKING BAD ABOUT JOB’S ATTITUDE!

- BUT YAH.WEH’S ATTITUDE TOWARD JOB IS ALWAYS CLEAR!

- AND FOR THAT, WE MUST HAVE A LOOK AT THE HEBREW WORD “NA”!

 

[JLGJLG]

1)

What is the biblical meaning of the na?

pray, now, please

nā' Definition

I (we) pray, now, please.

used in entreaty or exhortation.
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2)

https://skipmoen.com/2011/05/na-na-na-na/


Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, Joshua 2:12 NASB

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3)

Please – So far everything about Rahab is just a little strange. It’s almost as if the narrator left out all the nitty-gritty details on purpose. Perhaps the storyteller is crafting this episode so that we, the readers, have to enter into the narrative in order to understand it. That seems to be the case with this tiny addition to the Hebrew text – the particle na.

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4)

The particle na is often not even translated. It is simply two consonants (Nun-Aleph) attached to a verb, in this case, as a suffix to shava, “to make an oath.” With na attached to the verb, the meaning shifts from a demand to a request, from “Swear an oath” to “Please, swear an oath.” Rather than compelling action, the supplicant invites a response. The reciprocity is left hanging.

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5)

Na is sometimes attached to verbs expressing God’s actions. Those rare occasions are quite remarkable. But this isn’t the word used for God’s covenant promises. When God makes a covenant, the verb is karat, “to cut” a covenant. The first time the verb shava appears is in the story of Abimelech and Abraham (Genesis 21:22).[1] The first time we find this verb with God as the subject is Genesis 22:16 where God declares His blessing on Abraham following the attempted sacrifice of Isaac. Twenty-five times God swears an oath concerning the inheritance of the land. None include the particle na. None are conditioned upon the acceptance of the other party.

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6)

But that is not the case here. Rahab’s request for a binding agreement can only take effect if the two spies concur. Rahab asks. She does not demand, even though hesed contains the reciprocal expectation. Hidden in Rahab’s use of na is an indication of humility. Na demonstrates Rahab’s character, the same character we find in other women who are outsiders. Hagar demonstrates incredible obedience by returning to the abusive Sarah. Ruth shows her intense loyalty in her statement to Naomi. The Canaanite woman shows her humility in her reply to Yeshua. Rahab is in good company. She doesn’t barter her deliverance even though she might have called on the hesed protocol. Instead, she begs. This woman who is outside the fold, whose moral character may be suspect, who represents the enemy, beseeches the spies for mercy. We should take note that she does not include herself in her request. She begs for others. She is the intercessor for the life of those she loves. We can only stand in awe of her devotion, courage and faithfulness. Perhaps Rahab, the woman of ill-repute, is a good deal closer to God’s heart than we imagined. Perhaps Rahab teaches us what it means to be humble.

 

[JLGJLG]

7)

https://hebrew.jerusalemprayerteam.org/please-i-beseech-you/


Most Bible translations suffer a degree of distortion due to human shortcomings when translating from Hebrew to another language. The word ‘na’ (please) is one of the victims of these shortcomings, especially with the translation of the New Testament.

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8)

‘Na,’ please, appears 159 times in the New Testament, but the King James translation for example, completely ignores it 158 times! It looks like other translations ignore this important word as well. If fact, the English word ‘please’ (as the polite request) does not appear in the New Testament even once, despite the 158 times the Hebrew word is ‘na,’ please! What is the issue here? Is this intentional? Does it relate to the Greek culture at the time when ‘please’ might not have been favored culturally? If any one of you has an answer, please forward it us so that we can test it and then share it.

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9)

But facts remain facts! The expression: “I beseech you’ does appear a few times in the King James New Testament, but the Hebrew words in these verses are mostly ‘I demand!’ or another similar word with this connotation, but never ‘na’.

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10)

For contrast, ‘na’ appears 447 times in the Old Testament and in almost every single occurrence is translated. [This is the King James-based translation. I use this Bible as the most reliable and authoritative translation (next to the absolute correct origin: Hebrew) as it is accepted in Israel and across the Jewish world today. This Bible is the Hebrew/English Phonetic Bible that you see on the bottom of this page]. Disclaimer: Despite all this, there isn’t a perfect English Bible. We always recommend having some knowledge of Hebrew to people who really care to receive the Bible in its purest way. This relates to the New Testament, as well, because of the authoritative perfection of its two Hebrew versions.

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11)

Whereas ‘na’ is ignored in the New Testament, when ‘na’ appears in the Old Testament after a verb (such as ‘go,’ ‘come,’ ‘hear’ etc.), it is always translated as: Please, I beseech you, I beg you and so on, but never ignored.

“My son, please, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and give thanks to him”

Joshua 7:19

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12)

In some cases, when ‘na’, ‘please’ is not addressed directly to a person or to God (this is easily detected by the absence of a verb connected to it), the Bible translators tend to insert the word ‘now’ instead of ‘please,’ perhaps because of the sound proximity between ‘na’ and ‘now’. Although this is not exact, we can live with this because of a real absence of a better English word for these cases. We’ll continue with this subject tomorrow and will show you that God Himself says ‘please,’ although you are not likely to find it anywhere in your regular English translation. Please, ‘na,’ please don’t miss our Hebrew Word from the Lord tomorrow. You are guaranteed to be deeply moved!

 

[JLGJLG]

JLGJLG, are you quoting Britannica in the whole first part, and do you agree with that encyclopedia? Why do you use a secular encyclopedia in a Christian forum? The Bible's history is not in any sense myth or mythical. It is preaching, compressed history of the world from God's viewpoint through prophets and apostles.

- Apparently, you mix everything!

- It's about a discussion I had with an agnostic somewhere else!

- I am dealing with the corruption of man!