May the mumbling commence!
The Hebrew name game
continues. Let’s read the portions from
the end of chapter four and chapter five of Genesis that are significantly
different – Peterson’s The Message:
Adam slept with
his wife again. She had a son whom she
named Seth. She said, “God has given me another
child in the place of Abel whom Cain killed.”
And then Seth had a son whom he named Enosh.
That’s when men and
women began praying and worshiping in the name of God.
This is the
family tree of the human race: When God
created the human race, he made them god-like, with a nature
akin it God. He
created them both male and female and blessed them, the whole human race.
When Adam was 130
years old, he had a son who was just like him, his very spirit and image, and named him
Seth. After the birth of Seth, Adam
lived another 800 years, having more sons and daughters. Adam lived a total of 930 years. And he died. (Genesis 4:25-5:5)
Now read from the NIV translation:
Adam lay with his
wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God
has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed
him." Seth also had a son, and he
named him Enosh.
At that time men
began to call on the name of the Lord.
This is the
written account of Adam's line. When God
created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed
them. And when they were created, he called them "man."
When Adam had
lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and
daughters. Altogether, Adam lived 930
years, and then he died. (Genesis 4:25-5:5)
I like the flavor of Peterson’s
praying and worshiping the name of God to enumerate on what it means to call on
the name of the Lord. It’s a good
updating of the language. There is a
good updating of the language as well to include the idea included in man is
both men and women… it really is about the whole human race.
Peterson again adds the thought of
god-like and being akin to God. I’m not
convinced that this update is for the good.
It’s also echoed in Seth being just like Adam – in his very spirit and
image. While that might be the case in a
perfect world, it’s not the case in this fallen world. It was God’s intent; but humanity chose
otherwise.
Let’s read further in Genesis
chapter five. Read from Peterson’s The Message:
When Enoch was
sixty-five years old, he had Methuselah. Enoch walked steadily
with God. After he had
Methuselah, he lived another 300 years, having more sons and daughters. Enoch lived a total of 365 years.
Enoch walked steadily
with God. And then one day he was simply gone; God took him.
When Methuselah
was 187 years old, he had Lamech. After
he had Lamech, he lived another 782 years.
Methuselah lived a total of 969 years.
And he died. (Genesis
5:21-27)
Now read from the NIV translation:
When Enoch had
lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked
with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more,
because God took him away.
When Methuselah
had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. And after he became the father of Lamech,
Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.
(Genesis 5:21-27)
I do not like the differences that
Peterson puts forth in the life of Enoch.
He adds the adverb steadily to walking with God. The NIV has the sense that the birth of
Methuselah had great impact on his life.
Most translations do. Afterward,
he walked with God. It was a new quality
of life.
Those of us who have had
children often know this impact that our children have on us. I know I do.
Being a father helps me in my walk with God. Peterson seems to write that part out by
adding the word steadily and putting it before the “after he had
Methuselah.
However, I do like the
updating of the language to “one day he was simply gone”.
And I am not sure why Peterson deleted the “and
had other sons of daughters” refrain from the life of Methuselah.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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