When I was in at the University, one of my professors, from Greece told me people in the West, in the Catholic and Protestant Bibles continue to translate Jesus famous saying that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven the wrong way. In Greek, he said, the word Camel is actually thread made of camel's hair. This makes sense to me. Camel's hair tends to be thicker. Thus, hard to pass throgh the eye of the needle.

My Jewish Tenach has young woman at Isaiah 7:14. This passage is translated Virgin in Matthew, ch. 1. Bethulah is virgin in Hebrew, almah, in Isaiah 7:14 means young woman.

Jesus words that whoever ses a woman with lust already has commited adultery actually says that whoever looks(desires) at the wife of another commits adultery.

In Greek, Theios is divine, Theos is God, both are written the same in later manuscripts. Could it be possible for John, ch. 1 to say the word was devine instead of the Word was God?

In Greek os means who, OS, as an abbreviation means God. I Timothy 3:16, as other translations show, OS as abbreviation took hold, making Jesus God. Older versions have he.

Another in Samuel says that Goliath was about 9 feet. Newer discoveries show he was actually 6 1/2 feet.

The famous Red sea becomes the Sea of Reeds in Hebrew.

Carob, John the baptists' food was mistranslated as locusts(grasshoppers).

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), October 13, 2003

Answers

These translations have influenced some of our uderstanding about our belief system.

Can you think of others, or , do you think I am totally nuts on all of them?

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), October 13, 2003.

You're totally nuts! :-)

-- Ty (.@....), October 13, 2003.

Hi Elpidio.

I have stumbled across some of the same translations. It could be quite probable that the Jehovah Witness bunch has also stumbled across the same translations.

rod..

..

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), October 13, 2003.

What about Satan used in Job, instead of adversary as it appears in other similar passages for the word satan in the old Testament in hebrew? If Adversary is used there, then, The word satan as a npun does appear in the old testament.

Another, Hell, for Gehinnon, or valley of Hinnom. A place used for burning the trash in Jerusalem. Later used to symbolize a place of eternal punishment. In my opinion Hell is a place of Darkness, since God is light. The opposite is darkness.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), October 13, 2003.

Elpidio, I can comment on two...I've heard that John the Baptist ate "locust beans", not locusts. Also, the "eye of the needle" was a gate in Jerusalem, through which camels, being unclean animals had to enter...and since this gate/door was smaller, the camel had to kneel down and "crawl" through it. Thus this was kind of painstaking.

-- Christina (introibo2000@nospam.com), October 13, 2003.

Yes, Christina. The meaning of Gate I read about 7 years ago.Do you remember where you saw it? I was back then at the university. Can't remember the source.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), October 13, 2003.

I remember seeing this in some book when I was a child - it was a book on animals/animal quotes in the Bible. Have no idea what the title was!

-- Christina (introibo2000@nospam.com), October 14, 2003.

Locusts are edible. Mary was a young woman. A virgin under vows to God, as well. Gehenna is the lake of fire mentioned in Revelations. It was a burning ground for rubbish outside Jerusalem. Jesus undoubtedly knew this.

You mention: ''In Greek os means who, OS, as an abbreviation means God. I Timothy 3:16, as other translations show, OS as abbreviation took hold, making Jesus God. Older versions have he.''

It's fitting, since Jesus is, in fact God. He said so Himself, and He foretold the future; not by dreams, Elpidio; because God knows the future. He can reveal something to come, if He wishes, to some souls. I don't believe you're one.

''Jesus words; whoever sees a woman with lust already has commited adultery actually says that whoever looks (desires) at the wife of another commits adultery.'' Could be; what's the message? You're an adulterer without even getting kissed, if you have evil desires in your heart. It works either translation.

How would Jesus know these things about men's hearts; about sins particularly; if He were not God? It is God only who reads the hearts of men. The devil can't. The devil proceeds by testing the person. He said to Jesus at the start: ''If thou art the Son of God . . . ''

--He figured this is He. But he couldn't be sure. Now he's sure. The devil tests us to see if we believe Jesus is God. If he discovers a man who can be lured into denying Jesus is God, the devil adopts that man. That's his soul; his own sweetheart!

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), October 14, 2003.

Shalom Elpidio,

You wrote:

>>> My Jewish Tenach has young woman at Isaiah 7:14. This passage is translated Virgin in Matthew, ch. 1. Bethulah is virgin in Hebrew, almah, in Isaiah 7:14 means young woman. >>>

We may not be skilled in Greek but we have had some training in Biblical Hebrew and we know the word "alma" means not only "young woman" but also "maiden" or even "virgin". The Holy Roman Catholic Church interprets this "virgin" because Matt.1.23 tells us this is the proper interpretation (besides what sort of sign is it in a young woman getting pregnant - it happens often, especially in that time). Now Jews can take this interpretation as you do, however we are believers in the Moshiach (Messiah) and we also accept the New Testament as authoritative (we just reject Protestant interpretations).

As to Greek, perhaps one who is skilled in this language can clear those claims of "mistranslations". Also, we might add that in all our studies of the Hebrew text although certain questionable (and some outright wrong) interpretations do seem to exist none of these are in areas that would affect one's faith (they tend to be found in prophecies). Therefore, if this really causes you trouble, you may wish consider enrolling in a few courses in these ancient languages so you can more accurately answer these questions yourself. This is particularly true as grammar effects meanings and some Hebrew words simply do not translate into English accurately.

Shalom, C & C

-- C.Foegen (cfoegen@angelfire.com), October 14, 2003.

In a culture where women were married young and become mothers fairly young, what would be amazing or "prophetic" for Isaiah to mention that "the young woman will be with child"?

How remarkable would that have been for Jews? Wouldn't they say "well duh! Aren't ALL young women "with child"????

This is why the CONTEXT makes the Catholic choice of "virgin" that much more credible rather than the more inclusive and vague "young woman".

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), October 14, 2003.

I read that the "eye of a needle" referred to the entrance of a wall into the city, which the wall was partitioned. The camel would have to be somewhat of a contortionist, squeezing and pushing the animal through the awkward entrance.

-- rod (elrelyrod@yahoo.com), October 14, 2003.

The use of the word 'virgin' is not germane in Isaiah's prophecy. The 'sign' was the child, not a miraculous conception.

-- Bob Fullerton (gnoellea@yahoo.com), April 12, 2004.

Wrong. ''SHALL CONCEIVE'' is the sign. A virgin does not conceive a child; so the extraordinary aspect making this a sign, is conception without a man's action.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), April 12, 2004.

How would the birth of a child be a sign? Do you think people would sit up and take notice merely because a child was born? Do you think they would stand in awe because a young girl gave birth? These occurrences are so utterly commonplace that people would certainly overlook them, even if they were intended as a sign. But if something happened that had never occurred before in the history of the world - something that was totally impossible based on the entire cumulative experience of the human race - now THAT would be a sign difficult to overlook! The only idea expressed in this passage that could possibly qualify as such a sign is the idea of a virgin conceiving a child - an event without precedent, something humanly impossible.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), April 12, 2004.

ACTUALLY the Jews DID think it meant Virgin.

The septuegent is the Greek Translation of the Hebreew Bible. it was translated about 70tp 80 years before Jesus's birth. They ised the word Partheno, meanign Virgin.

All 70 Jewish Translators agreed. As did all rabbinical liturature of te time we now possess.

The Jews later stoped using Betheulah as Virgin A-F-T-E-R Christainity came about. They also wrte an account of the Lifeof Jesus that was derogitory, makign him a bastard chidl of Rape, a sorcerer, and an evil man. This was to defame Christyains as the Jewish Culture of the Thrid and fourth century grw resentful of Chrisyainity and its growing popularity.

This si when the words of Isiah stopped beign recognised as meanign a Virgin Birth, and became ONLY translatable as a Young woman.

Until then, the jews where expectign a Virgin Birth.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), April 13, 2004.

the questions should be why after so long do we seek to say that it is wrong what is comeing in to our hearts to will us to change our believes in what is written granted there may be mistranslations in the bible but you can not use moderen hebrew to translated it. the reason is there for you to see would you use old english to translated modern american english thay are two diffrent languages and dont always mean the same thing. just like old hebrew and new hebrew

-- joey jordan (joeyjordan37@hotmail.com), June 29, 2004.