[B-Greek] translation of Urim and Thummim in LXX?

Dan and Rachel King dan_rach at ntlworld.com
Sat Mar 20 04:07:00 EST 2004


It might be worth noting that the Syriac Peshitta perhaps had a better feel
for the semitic root and translated usually with <nhora w-shalma> (bright
and complete), which is an etymological rendering, but once (Lev 8:8) as
<yd'tha w-qoshta> (knowledge and truth) which is something more of an
interpretation, but it probably based on the translator having read the LXX.
Sometimes, the interpretation went a bit further, so the Urim in Num 27:21
are a <shalta> (inquiry) and, outside the Pentateuch it is even more
'interpreted' , hence Ezra 2:63 (mentioned by Albert Pietersma in his mail)
is rendered simply as ' [the priest] will ask and see' .
So, different methods adopted by different translators along different
principles (the basic question every translator must ask seems to be, does
one retain ambiguity and obscurity present in the text or try to make sense
of something you don't fully understand).

Dan King

>In sum, it is clear (DHLON ESTIN :-)) that the LXX translators had >
>ittle if any understanding of what URIM and THUMMIM meant. As a
>result,  they decided to represent the source text rather than to
>interpret it. Next step: rather than transcribe they opted  for an
>etymological translation.




More information about the B-Greek mailing list