[CKG]

Does anyone know why the NKJV uses the word "terebinth" instead of "oak" as in the KJV?

Judges 6:11

KJV - And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

NKJV - Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.

Hi CKG,

I don't know for certain, and I was not able to find much info about this. However, there is a bit of info regarding "terebinth" in regards to this verse at this link: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...ngs=H424&t=KJV

God bless,
Brian

Obviously, Bible readers all over the world were getting confused because they didnt understand what an "oak" tree was,so, to avoid any further confusion the translators used the much more modern and commonly used word "terebinth"

Changing (oops,I mean "updating") a few words here and there also helps with the copywright and subsequent cashflow from sales of a particular version of "Gods word"

fundy

[MC1171611]

About par for the course...my dad mentioned a modern perversion that had changed the word "porches" in the KJB to "porticos" or some such. Who other than a student of 19th century English Literature would know what a "portico" is??

I'm new here as I have some questions about Bible translating. My profession is agriculture.

The Hebrew word translated as Oak can mean other trees as well. I notice that the translators of the Septuagint chose the word Terebinth τερέμινθον, which is the native wild Pistachio tree. My experience is that the growth patter of the Terebinth, and it's softer leaves as opposed to an Oak's prickly leaves would make it a better chose for a meeting place, and I dare say that was what the translators of the Septuagint had in mind. Perhaps the TR having been translated in an area where there aren't any Terebinth trees growing was a reason for chosing Oak rather than Terebinth?

Tim

[MC1171611]

Originally Posted by TimV

I'm new here as I have some questions about Bible translating. My profession is agriculture.

The Hebrew word translated as Oak can mean other trees as well. I notice that the translators of the Septuagint chose the word Terebinth τερέμινθον, which is the native wild Pistachio tree. My experience is that the growth patter of the Terebinth, and it's softer leaves as opposed to an Oak's prickly leaves would make it a better chose for a meeting place, and I dare say that was what the translators of the Septuagint had in mind. Perhaps the TR having been translated in an area where there aren't any Terebinth trees growing was a reason for chosing Oak rather than Terebinth?

Tim

Well since the "TR" is the New Testament, in Greek, I think that's somewhat irrelevant. However, the Septuagint is a farce since there's no proof it was even available until well after the New Testament was penned. In fact, there's really no reason, other than lack of faith in God's word, to even use the Septuagint as more than historical reference.

Also, being in agriculture, I'm sure you could understand that an "oak" tree is not a "pistachio" tree. So either 1) you think the King James Bible is wrong, and therefore you have set yourself up as an authority over God's word, or 2) you're playing Devil's advocate, which isn't a very profitable hobby, especially on a board such as this.

Originally Posted by TimV

I'm new here as I have some questions about Bible translating. My profession is agriculture.

The Hebrew word translated as Oak can mean other trees as well. I notice that the translators of the Septuagint chose the word Terebinth τερέμινθον, which is the native wild Pistachio tree. My experience is that the growth patter of the Terebinth, and it's softer leaves as opposed to an Oak's prickly leaves would make it a better chose for a meeting place, and I dare say that was what the translators of the Septuagint had in mind. Perhaps the TR having been translated in an area where there aren't any Terebinth trees growing was a reason for chosing Oak rather than Terebinth?

Tim

If,( and I am not an expert in Hebrew) the Hebrew word is ambiguous in its translation possibilities, and Oak trees did indeed grow in the geographical ares that the events in the book of Judges took place, then the use of the word "Oak" to describe the tree under which the angel sat cannot to be proven to be a WRONG translation, as indeed, the angel COULD have sat under an OAK tree...just as described in the Bible.


Isn't this simply another example of the intelligentsia attempting to prove themselves superior in intellect to those venerable men who translated Gods Word into English for us? and as I said earlier, an attempt to set the copyright of the next big buck turning per-version.

fundy

[PB1789]

Originally Posted by fundy

Obviously, Bible readers all over the world were getting confused because they didnt understand what an "oak" tree was,so, to avoid any further confusion the translators used the much more modern and commonly used word "terebinth"

Changing (oops,I mean "updating") a few words here and there also helps with the copywright and subsequent cashflow from sales of a particular version of "Gods word"

fundy

Well put fundy.

They sure did clear that "Oak" problem up, now hundreds of lumber store employees/furniture makers can rest easy.

That is just another example/reason that I sent my copy of the NKJV back to the publisher...

---- ---- ------ ------ ----- ------ -------- ------- --------

speaking of clearing things up--- {by adding mud}... Has anyone seen/read a copy of "The New English Bible", which came out of Scotland in about the 1970's..? Oy Vey... the way they twist things around in order to "make it easier to read" could best be compared to a printed pretzel. The AV may have been done centuries ago, but it still is able to be memorized much easier than these Modern Translations.

Originally Posted by PB1789

Well put fundy.

They sure did clear that "Oak" problem up, now hundreds of lumber store employees/furniture makers can rest easy.

That is just another example/reason that I sent my copy of the NKJV back to the publisher...

---- ---- ------ ------ ----- ------ -------- ------- --------

speaking of clearing things up--- {by adding mud}... Has anyone seen/read a copy of "The New English Bible", which came out of Scotland in about the 1970's..? Oy Vey... the way they twist things around in order to "make it easier to read" could best be compared to a printed pretzel. The AV may have been done centuries ago, but it still is able to be memorized much easier than these Modern Translations.

Hi PB,

Dont feel too bad, only 1 in 10 people understand a Scotsman when he speaks ( and that includes other Scotsmen), so a Scottish translation of the Bible is bound to be the Rubiks cube of literature

I reckon "The Message" is the version that really takes the cake for turning Gods Word into gibberish..

fundy

[bibleprotector]

Originally Posted by PB1789

a printed pretzel

Now I know why they put that symbol on the front of the NKJV.