Idiomatic
Translations
Most Bible translations tend
to be somewhat literal in their presentation.
However, in some cases, a literal translation misses the point of what
is being said. In some cases, but not all,
the biblical language is presented in idiomatic form.
We will take a look at three
idiomatic Hebrew phrases that change the literal meaning of what is being
presented.
The first idiomatic phrase we
will explore is “bring again the
captivity.” It is found in the
KJV in the following verses.
Jer 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that
I will bring again the captivity
of my people
Jer 30:18 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of
Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces;
and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and
the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
Jer 31:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the
cities thereof, when I shall bring
again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice,
and mountain of holiness.
Jer 48:47 Yet will I bring again the
captivity of
Jer 49:6 And afterward I will bring
again the captivity of the children of Ammon,
saith the LORD.
Jer 49:39 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of
Ezek 16:53
When I shall bring again their
captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity
of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy
captives in the midst of them:
Ezek 29:14
And I will bring again the captivity
of
Ezek 39:25
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now
will I bring again the captivity
of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of
Joel 3:1
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of
Amos 9:14
And I will bring again the captivity
of my people of
Why is that idiomatic phrase
so problematic?
Many preachers do not
understand or acknowledge idiomatic phrases used in the Bible. They read them literally and lose the actual meaning,
which can differ greatly.
Let’s look at Joel 3:1 For,
behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of
“Bring again the captivity” is translated from a Hebrew
idiomatic phrase that means to restore
prosperity and good fortune.
Another idiomatic Hebrew
phrase saying is found in…
Habakkuk 1:13
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest
thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest
thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is
more righteous than he?
The fact is that God looks on
iniquity each and every day. So, what
does it mean?
“Canst not look on iniquity” indicates that God cannot condone iniquity. That verse in Habakkuk has been twisted and
abuse by preachers for centuries. And
yet, the truth is simple.
Another idiomatic phrase…
Hosea 4:6 My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge,
I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest
to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy
children.
Being destroyed for lack of knowledge does not speak of
destruction in the classic English sense.
It means that God’s people are “rendered
ineffective due to a lack of intimacy (with God).”
In order to understand those
texts, we must understand the idiomatic meanings!