Umph
- Deborah
- May 18
- 3 min read
Series: Life is Good
Scripture: Psalm 27:13 ESV
In Seminary we had the great opportunity of meeting a Hebrew gentleman. The meeting had a great impact on me (which I’m sure is why my professor invited the guest).
My first thought when he spoke was that it was the first time I’d met anyone like him. He wasn’t like any American I knew. He was what I’ll call ‘hot blooded’ and very animated. He made eye contact with his heart. His every move, especially hand gestures were were “grand gestures”.
Both sides of my family have Irish roots and the Irish are great storytellers, but a lot of the emphasis with the Irish is in the eyes and facial gestures. The man we met spoke with his whole body.
In Psalm 27;13 the English Standard translated the text to, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”
As I set out to study I made a note: read the Hebrew and read at least 10 other translations of the text.
Don’t get me wrong, the English Standard Version isn’t wrong per se. It seldom happens but it seemed like with this verse there is some dichotomy with the Hebrew to English translation. It does not impact the truth of the text, but it does impact the Hebrew emphasis.
The Hebrew gives “umph” to the statement. A Hebrew word by word translation says, ‘If I had not believed to look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!--“
When I read several translations and the initial Hebrew I personally thought there was a significant difference between ‘if I believed’ cut down to ‘I believe ‘.
I was reminded of the difference between the Hebrew gentleman we met in the classroom and a British diplomat.
The reasons seem quite clear to me.
In writing I believe David makes a statement that he has definitively made up his mind he sees the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. There isn’t anything wrong with that statement.
However, if David wrote “if I believed” there is a slight shift.
So, I looked at other translations.
The New American Standard Version says, “I would have despaired unless I had believed.”
The New International Version translated it as, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
The New King James says, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.”
The New Living Translation tells us, “Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.”
The King James Version (the Bible I grew up with) is translated: “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” It seemed strange to me that it wasn’t translated “I would have fainted” so it seems like the text was written to a different audience.
I also noticed there were as many translations who agreed with the English Standard Version.
If I had not met the Hebrew gentleman and noticed the difference in body language and animated gestures I might not have thought anything about the various (ever so slight) difference in the emphasis of the text.
In Seminary we were taught that ‘context is king’.
In this case, that is definitely a true statement!
Deborah
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