Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>]

On 26/10/2005 15:57, Bryant J. Williams III wrote:

> Dear Peter, Yigal, et al,
>
> True, but understanding the word "day" in a non-literal sense also does
> not work - and is arguably already "adding elements that are not in the
> text" and "midrash, but certainly not a literal understanding of the
> text". There is no easy answer.
>
> Bryant:
>
> The problem as I see it, (sorry, basketball official jargon, :))) ), YOM  
> causes
> us to want to eisegete our interpretation into the text to correspond with 
> what
> our view of regarding the universe and creation-evolution. The word used with
> numbers to indicate a 24-hr period = evening and morning is quite clear. BUT 
> we
> are not at liberty to translate via application. The straight dope is to 
> render
> it as day. In other word, at this point is confusing application with
> interpretation = eisegesis. Beyond that is flat out wrong. The context is 
> quite
> clear about that.
>  

Thank you for the clarification. As a translator, I agree that YOM 
should be translated "day" in Genesis 1, although probably not in 2:4. 
If I were to interpret this for a congregation etc, I would need to go 
into what Yigal calls midrash, but that is the nature of preaching and 
teaching.

For a similar reason Revelation is one of the easiest books in the Bible 
to translate - because all of the complex imagery has to be translated 
literally, and the interpretation can be left to others.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/