Monday, May 5, 2008

You Have Increased Their Joy Isaiah 93

You Have Increased Their Joy Isaiah 93
A reader asked me to explain Isaiah 9:3 (Hebrew 9:2). The confer for his question is so the versions conflict for instance translating this verse in vogue English. Less than are two translations of Isaiah 9:3:

Emperor James Version:


"Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not improved the joy: they joy earlier thee according to the joy in gather round, and as men revel for instance they part the spot."

The Jewish Reproduction Society:


"Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast improved their joy; they joy earlier Thee according to the joy in gather round, as men revel for instance they part the spot."

I store recycled audacious inscription in quoting the text to bolster the fringe of verse 3 anywhere the versions conflict. As can be seen senior, one current of air (the KJV) is uncomplimentary, "and not improved the joy," in the role of the other current of air (the JPS) is noise, "Thou hast improved their joy." The question is: why the difference?

The end result to this question and the observations as to why the two versions conflict in their translation of the text is found in the Hebrew Bible and in the matter provided by the Masoretes. Let me begin by identifying the Masoretes.

The Masoretes were Jewish scribes who sham the ancient Hebrew manuscripts. They advance the vowels to the consonantal text, striking darken passages, and branched the text in vogue sections for liturgical use. One of the keep information generosity of the Masoretes was the underground matter they advance to the manuscripts. These matter provided alternative readings of the texts which they alleged represented a senior model reading than dwell in found in the manuscripts.

These matter are called the Ketiv/Qere. The Ketiv, "that which is in print," is the form of the word which appears in the Hebrew Bible. The Qere, "that which is to be read," is the educate completed by the scribes, which in their sight represents an ancient and hole reading.

One of dwell in anticipated emendations is found in Isaiah 9:3 and the freedom featuring in is a homophone. Homophones are words that for instance read, they are rigorous in the same way but store extraordinary meaning or are spelled differently. One good chunk of homophones in English is found in the words "to, too," and "two."

The homophone in Hebrew is and. The two words reliable in the same way for instance they are rigorous in Hebrew, but they store extraordinary meanings. The head of state word, lo', means "not," and the precise word, l^o, means "to him, his."

The Hebrew text of Isaiah 9:3 reads as follows:


The Emperor James translates the text as: Thou hast not improved the joy. This is the Ketiv or what is in print in the text. Nevertheless, the Masoretes imaginary that this is not the best and original reading. Correspondingly, they put a notification in the quality of the text and imaginary that otherwise of reading, lo', the text indigence read, l^o, "Thou hast improved their joy." This is the Qere, what indigence be read.

Now, for instance it came time to deduce Isaiah 9:3 in vogue English, of all the modern versions, just the Emperor James Call up adopted the Ketiv reading, the reading of the Hebrew text. All the other versions, with the New Emperor James Call up followed the Qere, or the reading anticipated by the Masoretes.

A quicker set phrase at the context of the tube demonstrates that "Thou hast improved their joy" is the hole reading. According to the text, the Lady increased the nation and improved their joy. In extra, the culture revel earlier the Lady in the actual way they revel at gather round time and for instance they part prize.

It is critical that the Emperor James did not revere the Qere in translating Isaiah 9:3 for example the uncomplimentary translation adopted by the Emperor James contradicts the rule the soothsayer is forcible to join to his attendance. The impression of joy and celebration that mettle be demonstrated by the culture affirms that the Qere reading, "Thou hast improved their joy," is the model reading of Isaiah 9:3.

Claude Mariottini


Lecturer of Old Tribute

Northern Baptist School


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Tags: Hebrew Bible, Isaiah 9:3, Translation Struggle



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