New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-17
DIR. STRONG ON THE REvIsIoNs.
TELLING HOW Tue CHANGES WERE MaDE-ALrE

TELLING HOW Tue CHANGES WERE MADE-ALTERA-
TIoNs IN FAMILIAR PASSAGES.
Much interest was excited yesterday by the
cable dispatches giving of the changes In the re-
yised Old Testament TRIBUNE reporter obtained
from the Rev. DE- James Strong, Of the Drew THEOLOGY
cal Seminary. a prominent member OF the American
Revision Committee, the following statement OF the
changes not published yesterday:
The public are chiefly interested in knowing how far
the changes in the revised version affect the meaning
and Interpretation important and familiar passages
The account OF the creation has long been bone Of
contention among scientists and they here doubtless
expect great changes. Very few noteworthy ones how
ever appear IN the opening chapters OF Genesis. As
nearly all of the first chapter published exclusively
In THE TRIBUSB to-day turn TO the second chapter
lnii q ended is changed 10 finished so as TO cor
respond with l. III verse D. And every plant Of
the field before in the EARTH and every hers Of the
field before it grew become more accurately, And no
plant Of the field yet in the EARTH aud no herb OF the
field had yet sprung up. In verse TO- became into four
heads is changed for the better English became four
heads In Ii, toward the East is changed 70 in
front to suit the weknown geographical facts, and
the Hebrew term more literally There is a
slight change in the spelling OF some Of
the proper names, and Ethiopia Verse l3 is rendered
Cush as the Hebrew reads In 10 and the follow
ing Adam is literally translated the man. in
Is 49, 49, but not verses II, 81, where the Hebrew
being without the article indicates proper In
verse % the is rendered this the Hebrew
presses, although the English is not so smooth.
"Ini eat of every tree is changed to eat OF any
tree which is doubtful rendering the Hebrew may
equally well either, and in the mouth OF the
pent artfuy used express both. Ia 5, as
gods is rendered as GOd doubtless more correctly
although the Hebrew is ambiguous. In verse g.
peasant' Is rendered "a delight. and there few
other slight changes for the sake of lteralness.
The story Of the Flood has been another field Of con-
troyersy among learned But here likewise neither
marty has gained anything important by the revision
The fact js the old version accurate enough for all
che points dispute So in the account OF the Exodus
the facts and statements remain substantially the
IN Exodus %, In process Of time, is made to read
ain the course Of those many days" In III :
% borrow of course IS changed 10 ask, and go in
IF, 2. But the hardening Of Pharoah's heart, the
pagues" Of Egypt and the miracles in the desert are
lust as before for they plainly In the original
The alterations In the version are few and umimportan
The whole system OF Levca feasts and ceremonies re-
mains the noteworthy change being the
one noticed to-day; "meatofering" for inject
Offering" The details OF the construction OF the
Tabernacle precisely the same; "shittim-wood'
being exchanged for acbcia," and "taches" for
clasps The last odes Of Moses in Deuteronomy exhibit
few IL any important changes the following are the
chief specimens They have dealt corrupt with him.
they are not his children it is their bemsh XIII,
and of the blood OF the grape thou drankest wine'
verse II demons for devils verse III pit for hell
verso % nisdeem for behave themselves strangely
verse 81; at the time when their foot shall
Dide verse 80 from tho leaders Of the enemy verse