Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben Crick)]

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)
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