Yes, I know, this sounds like a strange thought. However, let us check it out…after all, one should form one’s opinion after hearing all of the facts.
If you read one of the common Scripture versions, you will read something like what follows:
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors. (Gen 37:3, ASV)
Note that “many” is italicized. There is a reason for this; namely, because that is not what Scripture says. The Hebrew word translated פּס (pas) literally means “a long and sleeved tunic” (source: Brown, Driver, and Briggs, Strong’s, et. al.). The three following more scholarly translations render pas correctly:
(Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text) Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a rich robe with long sleeves.
(Literal Translation of the Holy Bible) And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was a son of old age to him. And he made a robe reaching to the soles of his feet.
(The Scriptures) And Yisra’ĕl loved Yosĕph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a long robe.
There is no compelling reason to translate pas as “many colors” in this instance. A rich long robe is just as probable, or perhaps even more so. Jerom testifies that it was a garment, which reached down to the ankles, and had long sleeves reaching to the hands. [1] Jewish writers echo this sentiment for they call it "passim," because it reached to the palms of the hands. [2] Yes, a "coat of many colors" is a possible translation. However, there is not enough evidence to authoritatively translate it so.
In conclusion, sure, a coat of many colors makes a nice Bible story. But why would we lie (so to speak) to our children for the sake of a nice Bible story? We have no reason other than our own ignorance. The traditions of men have become implanted in our minds. In the words of the author of Titus, we should not listen to "myths and commandments of men, having turned away from the truth" (1:14)
[1] Trad. Heb. in Gen. fol. 72. A.
[2] Bereshit Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 84. fol 73.1.)
6 comments:
You're surely correct, but I don't see how this detail matters to the story in any way. Why is this important?
Anon @ 2:19,
You are correct. This detail takes noting away from the actual Bible story. However, it is more the principle that I am interested with. By preserving accuracy in the small things (for example, whether it is truly a colored coat), we assure accuracy in the things that matter.
I guess my point is that we as Christians are not helping ourselves by propagating half truths. We may as well say it how it is.
Make sense?
This is a rather one-sided article. The meaning of the Hebrew words is uncertain. The LXX uses the term "Coat of many colors" and while it is a later source, we are a lot more certain about what the words actually mean.
The Wikipedia has more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_many_colors#The_problem_of_translation
The reason this is an important distinction is that as errors become common currency we then find that such errors are used to confirm as truth other errors. Before long other errors can become egregious misrepresentations and can be used to bring to "certitude" a truth that is not there. If you don't believe that that is possible, then look no further than your local Xtian network. Every liberty is taken with every form of mistaken translation. It can then become the "gospel" truth.
Actually, "passim" means stripes. It's a reasonable guess that the stripes were of many colors, though of course it ain't necessarily so.
But where's the fun in a musical entitled "Joseph and His Amazing Long-Sleeved Tunic"? That doesn't sound catchy at all. Not even a little.
Post a Comment