Phlox Pyros

I can see where this thought comes from, but the Hebrews knew their own language.... If they thought that it represented a plural, and they were monotheistic, why didn't they change it? I'm just not sure that the word necessarily carries the kind of pluralistic baggage some would like to foist upon it.

mirage

Well according to you it doesn't mean a plural, and I bow to your knowledge on the subject. But my line of thinking was that there was a degree of ambiguity about its singularity, in the way that heavens and waters exemplify, and that this might show that the interpretation of the meaning of the word gradually changed, obviating the need to change the text.

(It's not like they produced a perfectly harmonised coherent work after all, so there must have been some tolerance for odd bits and bobs.)

Loomis

I disagree. Consider a situation where a bible translator injects CrazyGlue™ into his left ear, and WD-40® into his right ear. Imo, that would be a higher level of ignorance.

It would be even more ignorant for that same bible translator to sing “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” (from the Broadway Musical “South Pacific”) as he did this.

Loomis

Go tell that to the guys over at NetBible™.

Loomis

That’s another great verse. It appears to be some sort of polemic against – or a correction for, sections like Psalm 82 where "The Elohim" lives among other gods and is not identified as Yahweh.

Do this:

Back up four verses for a better reading experience – where we can find even more entertainment value for our dollar.

Deut 4:31

Yahweh your elohim is El the merciful.

This is great! I love it! Go ask Asherah or Baal who ‘El the merciful’ was. :rolling:

Phlox Pyros

As you may know, the ancient Septuagint and Aramaic Targums both read with a singular God and use "EL" as God, just as most English Translations...

Would you care to show, from the Hebrew, how you arrive at your translation?

Loomis

Yes. :wave:

The author of Isaiah 45 agreed with you.

Genesis 1:1~2

In the beginning The Elohim created the heavens and the earth.

Now the earth was a waste and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep …

Compare ...

Isaiah 45:18

This is what Yahweh says,

the one who created the sky –

he is the real “Elohim,”

the one who formed the earth and made it;

he established it,

he did not create it “a waste,”

he formed it to be inhabited –

“I am Yahweh, I have no peer.”

Do you understand what is going on here?

The authors of the bible disagree with each other. The author of Isaiah 45 is ‘badmouthing’ the author of Genesis 1.

The author of Genesis 1 wrote about a group of nameless gods – but the author of Isaiah 45 wrote about a single god named Yahweh.

It’s ironic that their stories would eventually wind up in the same book.

Loomis

No.

I’ve got a better idea.

Bow down to your G_d and ask him to force me to do it.

Apparently he used to do shit like this all the time.

Right?

Have him turn me into a pillar of salt.

Phlox Pyros

I must admit that I find your posts rather hostile. Why not learn and present with integrity and truth?

I feel that such an angry denial speaks volumes about what you know of Hebrew and translation.

Loomis

Yes. :wave:

The author of Isaiah 40 agreed with you.

Genesis 2:2

On the seventh day God finished the work that he did, and he rested on the seventh day ...

Compare …

Isaiah 40:28

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Yahweh is an everlasting god,

the creator of the whole earth.

He does not get tired or weary;