Explainer / Word studies
Other wording decisions
Single verses where a word needed a choice.
for fornicators, for men who lie with males, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;
Why
Greek arsenokoitai, first attested in Paul. Rendered from its parts (arsēn 'male' + koitē 'bed') and its likely source, LXX Lev 20:13 (meta arsenos koitēn). Avoids the modern category 'homosexuality'. Later uses: Hippolytus Ref. 5.26 and Bardaisan (in Eusebius, Praep. Ev. 6.10.25) clearly of male-male sex; Sibylline Oracles 2.73 and Aristides only list it.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor men who lie with males,
Why
Same word as 1 Tim 1:10 (arsenokoitai), rendered the same way. 'Effeminate' renders malakoi ('soft'), kept from the ASV.
And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.
Why
Hebrew se'irim, 'male goats, hairy ones'. Here they receive sacrifices and Israel 'plays the prostitute' after them, so they are objects of worship. LXX: mataiois, 'vain things'. Rendered 'goat idols' (as NIV); ESV has 'goat demons'.
and he appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the goat idols, and for the calves which he had made.
Why
Same Hebrew se'irim as Lev 17:7, listed with Jeroboam's calves; rendered 'goat idols' for consistency.
and say, Thus says the Lord Yehovah: Woe to the women who sew bands on all wrists, and make veils for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and keep souls alive for yourselves?
Why
Hebrew kesatot and mispachot occur only in this passage. LXX: proskephalaia 'cushions' and epibolaia 'coverings' (hence ASV 'pillows/kerchiefs'). Akkadian kasû 'to bind' is used in incantations; the context (hunting souls, payment in barley) indicates divination. Rendered 'bands' and 'veils'; the word 'magic' is not in the Hebrew.
Therefore thus says the Lord Yehovah: Behold, I am against your bands, with which you hunt the souls there to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls that you hunt to make them fly.
Why
See Ezek 13:18.
A Psalm of David. Yehovah says to my lord, Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies your footstool.
Why
Hebrew la'adoni, 'to my lord' (adoni, used of human superiors), not Adonai. Lowercase 'lord', matching the four New Testament quotations (Matt 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:34).
having blotted out the bond written in decrees that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
Why
Greek τοῖς δόγμασιν, 'in decrees'. Rendered 'decrees', the same word as δόγμασιν in Eph 2:15. The ASV has 'ordinances'.
So that the Torah has become our guardian to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith.
Why
Greek παιδαγωγός: the household slave who had charge of a child, took him to school and back, and kept watch over him. Rendered 'guardian' here, in 3:25, and in 1 Cor 4:15 (the same word). The ASV has 'tutor'.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called A wonder of a counselor is the mighty God, a father of eternity, a ruler of peace.
Why
Hebrew (9:5 in Hebrew Bibles) פֶּלֶא יוֹעֵץ אֵל גִּבּוֹר אֲבִי־עַד שַׂר־שָׁלוֹם is one name with no punctuation. Rendered as the sentence the name makes, keeping each word in its own form: pele 'a wonder' (noun), yoetz 'counselor' (participle), el gibbor 'mighty God', avi-ad 'a father of eternity', sar-shalom 'a ruler of peace'. 'Is' is supplied, as Hebrew leaves it unstated. The ASV has 'Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace'.