The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-08

,vaocusAcigs IN THE AUTHORIZED VERSION
or rnx RiBr.E--xEw READINGS OF OLD
r1asauss--cAsTsxa OUT OBSOLETE WORDS.
Txew yorh Tfmes.l
The American Sunday.SchooI Union has
consented 10 the publication OF copious ex.
tracts from the book "Bible Revision
and announces that the revised translation
n The New Testament will probably be
ready during 1881. The Rev. DR.. Ph'hp
scbatf. Ia the introductory statement, gives
a history Of the revision movement, ana
says: ,
terprIse Is to adapt King James's version TO
the present safe OF the English language
without changing the idiom and vocsbu'a.
nv. and TO the present standard oil BiDiicai
scholarship, which has made very great adj
yapces since 1911, especially during the last
thirty years, In textual criticism, Greek ana
Hebrew pathology, Ia Biblical geography
and archaeology.
az IL not the intention TO furnish new
psrsion (which Is not needed, and would
not succeed), but conservative rectston OF
The received version. so deseryed'y esteem
ed as Ear AS the English language extends.
The new Bible is 10 read like the old,
and the sacred association connected with
II sre not TO be disturbed; but with
in these limits all necessary and dc.
sIrabIe corrections and improvements on
which the best scholars are agreed will be
Introduced; coed version Is to te made
better: clear ana accurate version clearer
and more accurate; the oldest and purest
text Is 10 be followed; errors. obscurities,
and inconsistencies are to be removed; unit
formity In rendering Hebrew and Greek
words and proper names 10 be sought. In
one word, The revision is TO give, In lido
matte English, the nearest possible equiva-
lent for the original Word OF God as II came
from the inspired organs OF the Holy Spirit.
IL aims to be the best version possiblein the
nineteenth century, as King James, version
was the best which could be made in the
seventeenth century.
"Tbe English Companies transmit from
time TO time confidential copies OF their re-
vision TO the American Companies; the
American Companies send the results OF
their labors 10 The British Companies. like
wise in strict confidence. Then follows
second revision on the part OF both commit
tees, with q view TO barmonize the two re-
visions, and the results OF the second reyi-
sion are transmitted In Ike manner.
"If any differences should remain after
final vote they will be indicated in an aD-
pendix or preface. Happily they Will be
few and upessential, as compared with the
large number OF improvements already
adopted by both committees.
"Whep the revision is thoroughly ma
iured 1t will be given to the public as the
Joint work Of both committees by the Uni
versiiy presses OF Oxford and Cambridge,
which publish the best and cheapest edi-
tions OF the Bible in England, and will in
sure the utmost accuracy in typography.
When adopted by the Churches and Bible
Societies OF the two countries. the Revised
English Bible will become public property,
like King Jsmes's version"
The Rev. Joseph Packard, ID. d., deyotes
some space to pointing out inaccuracies, and
the Rev. w. Henry Green, ID. d., points
out some errors in names and mistakes in
meaning. He says:
"Proper names have sometimes been mis-
taken for common nouns or other parts OF
speech, and translated accordingly; and,
conversely, words which should have been
translated are retained as though they were
proper names. Thus, the house OF Cod
judges Xxx: 26, should be Bethel; IAN
hollow place that was in the Jaw Judges
XIV: 10, should be stbe hollow place that Is
in Lebi': spopulous No. Nahum iii. 8.
should be No-Ammon an heifer,pf three
years DID, Isaiah XIV. s, should have been
left untraDsla.ed: so should what he did,
Numbers XXI: II. On the contrary, the
book Of Ja.ber,' Second Samueli. H.: Is, Is
not by an author Of that name, but is sim.
DIV Inc book OF the upright. 'Rab-sars'
and sRab-mag,' Jeremiah xxx: 3, are
pot names of men, but titles OF office.
sBelia' Is not the name OF an evil spirit.
but men of Belial,' ought to be rendered
worthless or base men,
81 few instances occur in which words
OF peculiar formation have been entirely
mistaken by our traDslaiOrs, and divided
into two words when they are in reality
one. Thus, the word translated thick
cay,' Habakknk H.: 6, is not compound
term yielding this sense, but reduplicated
form from single root, and means
.pledges,' or goods taken in pledge by an
extortionate creditor; and shameful spew-
ing verse l6, is but single word meaning
ignominy.' The awkward expression,
Hosea iv. IS. her rulers with shame do
love, Give ye,' should be rendered, her
rulers are In love with shame.' The Escape
goat Of Leviticus xvi. : s, is enc word, not
two. and has no reference TO the goat at oil.
"The cases are frequent in which the
meanings of words are not altogether mis-.
taken, although the forms are not miscop
ceived nor the words Improperly divided.
Thus, the word translated 'avenging,'
Judges ": 2, means leaders,; 'the plain
OF Moreb,' Genesis xii. 9, ought 10 be the
oak OF MOreh;' 'the groves so frequently
spoken OF 10 connection with id0iatrous SER
vices, as Exodus xxXiv.: IL, were not
groves, but upright pillars. Job XVI. IL,
does not speak Of the crooked nor Isaiah
xvii: /, OF the piercing serpent; the cpl
tibet, which Is the same In both cases, Is
fleet, The Psalmist does not say,
Psalms Xxi: 20, Il will sing with the
barp,' but Il will play with the harp Hui.
dab did not dwell In the college,
Second Kings XIII: IA, but In the Sc
cond ward OF the city. 'Since that time
Isaiah XVII: Ii, should be 'of old; flag
.ons Of wine,' Hosea ILL.,: /, should be
cakes Of pressed grapes ,; galleries. Can
ticles VIII: 8, should be 'curls or locks
OF hair Hosea XII: ~, does not use the
language Of praise, 'Judah yet ruleth with
God,' but OF censurc, he royeth or runs
wild in his dealings with him. Isaiah TX.
/. does not contrast former light afi1iction
Of Galilee with subsequent more grievous
affliction OF the same region, but the period
OF dishonor with the glory that was 10 be
shed npon that region by the coming
Redeemer. sAll that make sluices and
ponds for fish, Isaiah XIX: 10, is mere
guess from the connection, and should
be rendered, all that work for hire are
sad at heart Samson did not GO down to
sihe top OF the rock Judges XIV: 8, but 10
the cleft Of the rock The children Of
Israel did not by divine direction 'borrow,'
Exodus XII. 2, Of the Egyptians. what they
never Intended to return; they asked
for and received gifts. sCbariots with
flaming torches, Nahum II. 8. are cbariOts