Complaint about Genesis

Why the constant attacks on the King James Bible? Well, some of it may be lashing out against King James-Onlyists. But some of it is for another reason. If you’re contending for the heavyweight championship, you don’t want to take on the losers at the bottom, but the champion at the top!

Someone on Facebook called attention to the video KJV Error: Mistranslation in Genesis 25:27, in an attempt to make hay against the King James Bible. It makes claims about Genesis 25:27.

• Genesis 25:27  (KJV) And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

The maker of this video claims, “The Hebrew word tam means perfect, in the sense of being whole, complete, blameless and mature.” So, in his mind, the KJV gets it wrong.

It is my initial reaction that the purpose of the channel being “solely dedicated to demonstrating that the King James Version of the Bible, while a good translation, is not the one and only perfect word of God” makes the interpretations given possibly strained and suspect (in other words, to support and extend the purpose of the channel). The speaker is not clearly identified (but is possibly Jeff A. Benner). However, the agenda clearly is! The purpose is not just to interpret the Bible, but to undermine the support for the King James Bible. 

If the owner of the channel is Benner, notice here his translation of Genesis 25:27.

• RMT: and the young men magnified and Esaw was a man knowing game and a man of the field and Ya'aqov was a man of maturity a settler of tents,

This seems to exhibit some surface concordance level of Hebrew words.

Of the 50-something English translations on BibleGateway, only one goes in the direction of the video in its translation. The Jubilee Bible 2000 has “upright.” Interestingly, the Orthodox Jewish Bible has “an ish tam (quiet man).” I don’t know anything about that Bible, but I just found it interesting that a Bible that purports to be Jewish associates “ish tam” with “quiet man,” not “perfect man” as does this video The NET Bible has “an even-tempered man” and their note says “Jacob was calm and even-tempered (תָּם, tam), which normally has the idea of ‘blameless’.”

I also checked the nearly 20 Spanish Bibles on BibleGateway. Only one – the Spanish Jubilee Bible – has anything in the direction of what the guy in the video thinks it must be. It has “Jacob, empero, era varón entero, que estaba en las tiendas,” with “entero” meaning something like whole, complete. (But I believe its range of meaning can also include “upright,” which would match the English Jubilee Bible.)

The point here is that in fighting the KJV on Genesis 25:27, the antagonist has bit off a good chunk of fighting most everyone else as well. I do not find this video convincing that all translations are just changing the meaning of tam to fit the LXX. Of course, it could be that the LXX and the majority of English & Spanish translations get “tam” right in this context!

Comments of others:

• Barnes: “27. תם tām, “perfect, peaceful, plain.” The epithet refers to disposition, and contrasts the comparatively civilized character of Jacob with the rude temper of Esau.”
• Calvin: “The word תם (tam,) although generally taken for upright and sincere, is here put antithetically. After the sacred writer has stated that Esau was robust, and addicted to hunting, he places on the opposite side the mild disposition of Jacob, who loved the quiet of home so much, that he might seem to be indolent…”
• Clarke: “Jacob was a plain man — איש תם ish tam, a perfect or upright man; dwelling in tents - subsisting by breeding and tending cattle, which was considered in those early times the most perfect employment; and in this sense the word תם tam, should be here understood, as in its moral meaning it certainly could not be applied to Jacob till after his name was changed…”
• Constable: “The Hebrew word tam, translated ‘plain,’ probably means civilized and domesticated, a homebody…Translators have rendered it ‘perfect’ and ‘blameless’ elsewhere (Job 1:1; Job 1:8; Job 8:20; Psalms 37:37; Proverbs 29:10). It may imply a quiet, self-contained, detached person, complete in himself.”

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Some notes:

Well, it is his translation, whether or not he is the owner of that channel!

Benner’s own site does not claim the YouTube videos, but the YouTube channel links to Benner’s mechanical-translation.org site.

Benner seems to enjoy setting himself up as an authority who is smarter than everyone else. This becomes obvious is his 10 surprising facts about Jesus we’ve had wrong all these years.

3. Jesus’ last words on the cross were not Eli Eli Lama Sabach’tani.

“In Matthew 27:46, the phrase Eli Eli Lama Sabach’tani is the last recorded words of Jesus, but his last words must have been sh’ma Yisra’el Yahweh eloheynu, Yahweh ehhad (Hear, O, Israel, Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is One (Deuteronomy 6:4). According to Jewish tradition, the words of Deuteronomy 6:4 should be the final words of every Jew before death and we can be sure that these were the last words of Jesus, a devout Jew, on the cross.”

Toward a biblical definition of “prophet”

Prophet, noun. According to Merriam-Webster, may be (1) one who utters divinely inspired revelations; (2) one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight; (3) one who foretells future events. The third definition is probably that which comes most readily to mind to modern English speakers. What is a prophet, biblically defined?

The meaning of the word.

As we notice in the introduction, the English word “prophet” includes several different shades of meaning (e.g., 5 at Merriam-Webster, 7 at Dictionary.com). What about the Bible?

The primary Hebrew word for prophet is (נָבִיא nāḇî'). The word “seer” (הָרֹאֶה rō'ê/rā'â) is synonymous for prophet, according to 1 Samuel 9:9. The Hebrew word (הַחֹזֶה ḥōzêh) is also translated “seer.” In 1 Chronicles 29:29 all three of these Hebrew words are used (נָבִיא nāḇî') (הָרֹאֶה rō'ê) (הַחֹזֶה ḥōzêh).[i]

The primary Greek for prophet is (προφήτης prophētēs). Greek also has the word (ψευδοπροφήτης pseudoprophētēs) for a false prophet. Hebrew adds descriptors about prophets prophesying falsely rather than having a word “false prophet.”[ii]

The biblical use of the word.

The first use of the word “prophet” in the Bible is found in Genesis 20:7, where God calls Abraham a prophet. There it seems to primarily mean that Abraham is God’s spokesman or representative. The last use of the word “prophets” is found in Revelation 22, which seems to connect both the ideas of God’s spokesmen (v. 9) and the references to future events (v. 6).

God told Moses, “Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet” (Exodus 7:1). This also seems to emphasize the nature of the prophet as a spokesman (e.g. Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well…and Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, Exodus 4:14, 30). In Exodus 15:20, where Moses’s sister Miriam is referred to as a prophetess, she took a timbrel in her hand and led the women in singing to the LORD – emphasizing the nature of forthtelling. Notice also that the musicians for the tabernacle and temple were considered prophets (1 Chronicles 25:1-3).

The Old Testament prophets spoke for God. In connection with this, some of them also dreamed dreams, saw visions, and foretold the future (Numbers 12:6; Isaiah 1:11; Jeremiah 28:9; Ezekiel 33:33). The word and its related work included “forthtelling” and “foretelling.” The commonality in all of this seems to be that of accurately presenting and representing God’s truth. Those who wrote the Old Testament Scripture, or at least many of them, were considered prophets.

Many times in the New Testament, the word “prophet” refers back to the Old Testament prophet (Matthew 1:22; 2:17; Acts 2;16). “The prophets” may also mean the Scriptures of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17; Luke 16:29; 24:27, 44: John 1:45).

However, prophets are also current/active in the New Testament. John the Baptist was a prophet (Luke 7:28), a spokesman for God who came before and announced the coming of the Christ.[iii] Those called prophets in the New Testament include Jesus; Agabus (Acts 11:27-28; 21:10); Barnabas, Simeon Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, and Saul (Acts 13:1); Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32).[iv] Though prophets and apostles were different – that is, all prophets were not apostles – it seems that by default the Bible considers all the apostles to be prophets, even while not specifically naming each of them them thusly (Acts 4:33; 1 Corinthians 13:2; Revelation 1:3; 18:20: 22:6).

Paul refers to those who speak in the Corinthian assembly as prophets, who could speak in a way to edify, exhort, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3-5). Though prophecy is a gift (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 14:32), the prophets are not out of control. They can contain themselves from all speaking at once (1 Corinthians 14:26, 29, 40), and must speak so as to acknowledge that the inspired words of the apostles are the commandments of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37). (Therefore, they cannot claim a the Spirit made me do it excuse for bad behavior.)

In Titus 1:12, Paul applies the word “prophet” in a “non-biblical” or “non-Christian” sense, calling a spokesman for the Cretians “a prophet.”

Prophecy is a spiritual gift, as we see from Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 28-31; 13:2; and 14:1-6. Those who prophesy, prophesy according to the proportion of faith with which they are gifted, within the place in the body the Spirit has placed them.

The rhetorical question of 1 Corinthians 12:29 indicates that all of God’s people are not prophets (cf. Numbers 11:29). Everyone should be a representative of God in witnessing to and sharing his truths. However, some are gifted to do so in a more official way.

Paul indicates that supernatural tongues, prophecy, and knowledge will cease with the close of the biblical revelation (canon), 1 Corinthians 13:8. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Concluding thoughts on the words and its meaning.

In the Bible, a prophet was a spokesman for God – one who conveyed a message from God to the people. The calling or work included foretelling (proclaiming God’s events and plan for the future) and forthtelling (publishing God’s will and truth in the present). Often this role of prophet combined these two features, for example, using warning of future judgment as a call to present repentance. Prophets guided the people concerning truth, faith, morality, and judgment (cf. Acts 24:25). His duty was not solely about predicting the future – and often not even primarily.

• The Bible reader should not just think “predicter of the future” when encountering the word “prophet.” A full picture is needed.
• The Bible reader should think of “spiritual gift” when encountering the word prophet, especially in the New Testament.

It seems difficult for the average modern English Bible student to think “prophet” and not think of someone who foretold the future. Yet, the common thread of all prophets is not that fact, primarily, but rather of being God’s sent spokesman. Perhaps these thoughts will help. What have I forgotten to consider? If something, please add in the comments.

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[i] I have put these words in parentheses due to the tendency of the embedded “backward spelling” of Hebrew to go haywire in Microsoft Word, ending up at times in various crazy fashions.
[ii] The Old Testament calls five women prophetesses – Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Noadiah, and the wife of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:3). The latter may simply mean the wife of a prophet, and Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14) seems to be a false one, opposing the work of Nehemiah. The New Testament calls two women prophetesses – Anna (Luke 2:36) and Jezebel (Revelation 2:20). The first one is on God’s side, and the latter seems to only be one falsely so-called. Compare also Acts 21:9.
[iii] John the Baptist is evidence that a prophet did not necessarily perform miracles. “And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true” (John 10:41).
[iv] The emphasis of Judas and Silas as prophets was that they “exhorted the brethren with many words.”

Greek and Hebrew words in English

Many English-only Texians actually know a little bit of Spanish because certain Spanish words have effectively become English words, for example: adiós, amigo, armadillo, barbacoa, cucaracha, fiesta, hombre, jalapeño, mesa, nacho, salsa, taco, tamale.

Likewise, certain Greek and Hebrew Bible words, through common repetition, have effectively become Christian English words (and some are known outside Christian contexts, having literally become English words). Accordingly, many English-only Christians know a little bit of Greek and Hebrew, even if they do not know they know them.

Some Greek words used by English-speaking Christians.

• agape: love (its well-known-ness is generally incorrect)
• amartia: sin
• amen: so be it
• anathema: accursed
• baptizo: baptize, immerse
• charis: grace
• ekklesia (ecclesia): assembly, church, congregation (from which we get the word ecclesiology)
• Emmanuel (Immanuel): literally, “God with us” (also a Hebrew word)
• episkopos: bishop
• euangelion: the gospel, good news
• eucharist: thanksgiving (used to refer to the communion of bread and wine)
• exousia: authority
• koinonia: communion, fellowship
• kenosis: an emptying (of Christ, as described in Philippians 2:7)
• kyrie (aka, kurios): Lord; often known through its use in Latin liturgical texts and in Western choral music; e.g. in the phrase kyrie eleison, or “Lord, have mercy”
• kerygma: preaching, or message
• Logos: the word (spoken of in John 1, et al.)
• maranatha: [when] our Lord comes (an Aramaic phrase in the Greek New Testament)
• Messias: Christ, the Anointed one (also a Hebrew word משיח – Messiah)
• metanoia: repentance, conversion
• monogenes: only begotten
• nomos: law
• Paraclete (Parakletos): one called alongside; the Holy Spirit
• parousia: coming, arrival (most commonly used by Christians when referring to the second coming of the Lord; e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:23)
• pistis: faith
• presbuteros: elder
• soteria: salvation (from which we get the term soteriology)
• Theos: God

Some Hebrew words used by English-speaking Christians.

• Adonai: master, lord, Lord
• ben: (prefix) son, son of
• beth: (prefix) house, house of
• Elohim: a generic name for God and sometimes gods
• halal: praise, worship
• hallelujah: praise God (Jehovah)
• hosanna: save now, an affirmation of praise (cf. Psalm 118:25-26 & Mark 11:9)
• Immanuel (Emmanuel): literally, “God with us” (also a Greek word)
• Jehovah (Yahweh): the Old Testament covenant name of God, usually translated Lord in English
• Messiah: Christ, the Anointed one (also a Greek word Μεσσίας – Messias)
• nephesh: soul, life, breath
• Satan: yes, that is a direct Hebrew word, meaning Satan or adversary
• selah: a possible liturgical or musical term of uncertain meaning, nevertheless often used by English-speakers to express a pause. 
• shalom: peace, true peace
• shema: hear
• tikvah: hope
• torah: instruction, law (most often used to refer to the 5 books of Moses, the Pentateuch)

Bonus.

• Tanakh: not found in the Old Testament itself, but a common term referring to the Hebrew Bible.

In this vein, Rose Publishing has put out 50 Greek Words Every Christian Should Know and 50 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. And on You Tube, there is the series by IsraelU, 7 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know.