Just in Case You Missed It, The Hebrew Name Game is Back! Genesis 11:10-26

May the mumbling commence!

Just in case you missed it, here’s the Hebrew Name Game once again.  This time we are going from Noah’s son Shem to Abram.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            This is the story of Shem.  When Shem was 100 years old, he had Arphaxad.  It was two years after the flood.  After he had Arphaxad, he lived 500 more years and had other sons and daughters.

            When Arphaxad was thirty-five years old, he had Shelah.   After Arphaxad had Shelah, he lived 403 more years and had other sons and daughters.    

            When Shelah was thirty years old, he had Eber.  After Shelah had Eber, he lived 403 more years and had other sons and daughters.

            When Eber was thirty-four years old, he had Peleg.  After Eber had Peleg, he lived 430 more years and had other sons and daughters.

When Peleg was thirty years old, he had Reu.  After he had Reu, he lived 209 more years and had other sons and daughters.

When Reu was thirty-two years old, he had Serug.  After Reu had Serug, he lived 207 more years and had other sons and daughters.

When Serug was thirty years old, he had Nahor.  After Serug had Nahor, he lived 200 more years and had other sons and daughters.

When Nahor was twenty-nine years old, he had Terah.  After Nahor had Terah, he lived 119 more years and had other sons and daughters.

When Terah was seventy years old, he had Abram, Nahor, and Haran.  (Genesis 11:10-26)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

This is the account of Shem.

Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.  And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah.  And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber.  And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg.  And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu.  And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug.  And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor.  And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah.  And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.  After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. (Genesis 11:10-26)

There are not many differences of note in this passage.  NIV is more specific when it comes to men being fathers rather than just having them.  There is much more repetition in the NIV around the words lived and had lived.  It makes it less of a passive passage.  Yet, there is more repetition of names in Peterson’s work.

Tomorrow we will finish the current round of the Hebrew Name Game and start the story of our spiritual ancestor, Abram / Abraham.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out