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  • From: ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)
  • To: manstey AT portal.ca, b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Cc: cfollingstad AT compuserve.com
  • Subject: Re: Meaning of ger
  • Date: Thu, 8 Jul 99 11:36:40


On Wed 7 Jul 99 (17:04:00), manstey AT portal.ca wrote:
> Just wondering what people thought was a good word to use for ger for
> its usual meanings. We want to try to avoid "resident aliens," "aliens,"
> or "strangers" if possible. What does NJPS use? The current revisors of
> the NIV are removing the word "alien" from the translation altogether,
> and we too are looking a better word. What do people think of these
> possibilities:
> 1. immigrant
> 2. outsider
> 3. foreigner
> 4. refugee
> 5. person in exile
> 6. migrant

Dear Matthew,

I see that Ita Sheres suggests "joiners"! To us in the UK that means
carpenters! "Carpenter of Nazareth seeks Joiners: no prior experience
necessary" (commonly seen Church poster). Is this the connotation that
you want? - hardly.

You seem to be going along with the "political correctness" lobby in
seeking to discard words with pejorative racist connotations. But surely
the whole point of the Biblical exhortations to be kind to GeRiYM is to
*combat* Xenophobia and hostility to outsiders. So in fact, the most
derogatory racist term you can think of is likely to be the very best one
to choose!

You stick with the "theologically correct" word, and challenge the
"politically correct" lobby. The *context* of GeR should in each case
determine the most appropriate synonym from your list in 1-6 above.
The Prophets of Israel were challenging the political establishment
all the time, in spite of the unpopularity it brought them. Political
awareness and sensitivity to the "target" group is a good trait in
translators; but not political expediency.

Henry Churchyard's suggestions are very apposite; but to use the
old-fashioned word "sojourner" would obfuscate the issue for today's
generation, not brought up on the King James Version. From Latin
Sub (under or about) and Diurnus (belonging to the day), it suggests
travellers rather than residents.

IMHO.
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
<ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm







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