Is the "US and WE" used in religious books a perfect example of the DANGER of translating Divine Revelation ?

Question

In Divine texts God refers to himself in the most majestic terms.

Just like in some ancient kingdoms the courts would refer to the King in the plural sense to show honor and majesty.

THIS is exactly why the words in Aramaic and Arabic (maybe also Hebrew) have words which refer to God in the Absolute single tense – they are impossible to be used in the plural sense but when they are TRANSLATED, to show their majestic meaning in the original language, they are made into WE and US .

This is an example of the EXTREME danger when Revealed books are translated and re-translated without keeping the original Aramaic or Arabic.


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Answer 1

Possibly ... but since when I 'read' the Bible I have 17 DIFFERENT translations, there is 'far less chance' that I will 'read the wrong message' ... and by the way, the language spoken in Judea at the time of Christ was Aramaic, not Hebrew ... Hebrew is a MODERN language that comes to us 'from the Aramaic language.'

Answer 2

The Hebrew word Elohim is the plural of El and is the Hebrew word used in the original text of Genesis 1. Like the first answer, a person can be dangerous if they don't know what they are talking about. This issue cannot be passed over by saying that there are so many different versions of the Bible, they can't all be right. In fact, the different translations are to different languages. Even in the English language there are different language styles. People read a Bible hoping to find a version that matches their reading style. You can take the Holy Bible in the KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT, CEV, NASB, and RSV and they all have the same message in different wording. That is to help the reader. Then on top of that there are Study Bibles that have commentary alongside the passages, and those commentaries are written by religious scholars. Then there are Bibles with center column references to a previous place in the Bible that said the same thing. It is like citing other passages as the foundation of the passage that you are reading. There is still another Bible with outside column references for those who prefer that style. There is still another Bible with wide margins so that you can take notes yourself from something you heard in a sermon that made the passage become more alive. However in no case is the text compromised from this. The NKJV reads the same with commentary or without commentary. It is your choice depending on how deeply you wish to study the Bible. The OT was written in Hebrew except for 6 chapters of Daniel, and they were written in Aramaic in order that Israel's neighbors could understand it. The NT was written in Koine Greek, the classical language of the first century AD. grace2u

Answer 3

if the English lang. doesn't have an equivalent to the Aramaic and Arabic then we have to use the next best thing...i see your point but other than the gen. pop. learning several different lang. this is the best that can be done to spread the word. in everything translated there is always something lost. we just try to do our best...that's why it's important to have an informed teacher. but unfortunately, that art is dying faster than a fly. take a look at a public school systems lol ppl just don't care anymore..it's ashame really.

Answer 4

It is not such a big deal as all that.

Relax. What is so dangerous? Normal people take comfort in religious texts, translated or not. Only criminally inclined freaks do anything dangerous or harmful in the name of religion. The presence of one book or another won't change their inclination.

Answer 5

No. You never should pay any attention to simple words with no clear meanings. However, study metaphoric logic, in all it's places and experiences. I would say that, that is how you become to "know" the pathway toward a divine {REVELATION} in your sacred and enternal {LIFE}

Answer 6

The word of God is not and English lesson.

Answer 7

No, lighten up !

Answer 8

yes, yes, yes.

Answer 9

.