The Hebrew word ariy means lion, so why did Christians translate it to mean pierced?

Answer 1

they translated assassin into "witch" and used it as an excuse to murder millions of teenaged girls--I think they do it on purpose actually

Answer 2

Nowhere can I find a Hebrew word "ariy", not in a Hebrew to English dictionary, nor on Applied Language Solutions translation website. So maybe you have the wrong word? And, apparently, since Hebrew translators say there is no such word, it could not have been translated as pierced by Christians or anyone else.

Answer 3

We don't.

It is actually "kaaru" in the Christian version of Psalm 22.

Note that the Greek Septuagint which was translated by Jews from the Hebrew centuries before Jesus was born says "pierced" (in the Greek) also.

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Psalm 22:16 is one verse where the standard Jewish translations differ from the translations most Christians use. Here's why. In Hebrew, the phrase "they have pierced" is kaaru while "like a lion" is kaari. The words are identical except that "pierced" ends with the Hebrew letter vav and "lion" with yod. Vav and yod are similar in form, and a scribe might easily have changed the text by inscribing a yod and failing to attach a vertical descending line so that it would become a vav. The evidence suggests that this may be what happened, since the Greek version of the Scriptures, known as the Septuagint, rendered in Egypt before the time of Jesus, preserves the reading of "pierced."

Unfortunately we don't have the "original text" to check whether that was a vav or a yod. What we have is the Septuagint translation which translated the Hebrew text as "pierced" and the Masoretic or standard text which has it as "like a lion."

Notice that the translation of the Hebrew is "pierced" in the Greek Septuagint which was completed in the centuries before Jesus was crucified. Therefore the charges made by some counter-missionaries, that fundamentalist Christian interpreters "twist" the meaning of the Hebrew Bible, rings hollow.

Answer 4

If it was mistranslated by anybody, it was the Jews. The Septuagint reads "pierced" (or "dug," orousso). Now, since the Septuagint was translated centuries before the birth of Christ, how did the Christians mistranslate it, exactly?

And considering the fact that 20% of the Hebrew Old Testament was a complete enigma to Masoretic scholars, which is more likely? That Christians in time machines went back to 4th century Alexandria and altered the text, or the modern rendering utilizes a different manuscript tradition?

Also, would you care to illuminate us as to the Dead Sea Scrolls rendering of this verse?

Oh, and for Ray's benefit, the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls both read "virgin."

Answer 5

Psalms 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet. (NIV)

The text footnote explains: 16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts / like the lion,

Answer 6

You'll find that christians have tampered with the bible so as to make it appear to say what they want you to beleive! There have been over 10 thousand such mis translations found in the King James Bible alone! The only trust worthy Bible on the face of the earth is the "BOOK OF YAHWEH, VOL."s 1 & 2" This is the greatest work of translation of the original Hewbrew scriptures into the English language the money can buy!!! It can only be optained through the HOUSE OF YAHWEH in Abilene, Tx. 325-676-9494!!! If you love the scriptures, you'll never regret the purchase!!!

Answer 7

Who cares? Many words have changed over the years due to differences in translation.

Answer 8

It was convenient. Like how they took the word almah, young woman, and changed it to mean virgin so the whole virgin birth thing would pan out for them

Answer 9

That is why I bought a Jewish translation of the Tanakh(Old Testament) so I could read what it really says!!

Answer 10

I think it was allonyoav that said the verse reads "pierced between the hands," i.e. in the body.
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