Job 14:14 Changed

by garlic81 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  garlic81

  Job 14:14 has been changed in the NWT 2006 printing. The changed "All the days of my compulsory service I shall wait," to "All the days of my compulsory labor I shall wait;". CO said the reason according to the writing dept is that if you're doing a service for someone it can be voluntary; you can find joy in doing so. However Job was toiling through his days, they were laborous; much like what many people go through today. They are not filled with joy, you do just what you can to get by.

  Whereas when that "call" from Job 15:15 comes it will not be a laborous time, but a joyous time - when the relief comes.

  He said there are other changes too. Something in 1st Thess, but he didn't remember the scripture. I'm going to try and find it.
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  garlic81

  Funny thing is they don't use the 2006 printing of the NWT on the 2008 WT Library. It is still the 1984 version.
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  Chalam

  I think they have deliberately moved away from the word "service". Looks like the WT could be softening up. Too many weary JWs from the forced hard labour.

  The root of the Hebrew word here is actually to do with warring http://strongsnumbers.com/hebrew/6635.htm

  Or (feminine) tsbadah {tseb-aw-aw'}; from tsaba'; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. Organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship) -- appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).

  Some bibles actually translate that literally http://bible.cc/job/14-14.htm

  I think they can claim to be the "most accurate" :)

  I'd be curious to see what they are changing in the New Testament. I think that could be quite revelatory.

  All the best,

  Stephen
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  slimboyfat

  Interesting, I'll have to check that out.

  CO said the reason according to the writing dept is that if you're doing a service for someone it can be voluntary; you can find joy in doing so. However Job was toiling through his days, they were laborous; much like what many people go through today. They are not filled with joy, you do just what you can to get by.

  What happened to basing the translation on linguistic considerations rather than how they think the text should read?
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  slimboyfat

  The American Standard Version has "all the days of my warfare". The RSV has "service". The NWT seems to be overtranslating by inserting "compulsory" in both the old and new version.

  It is interesting if they are tinkering with the text of the NWT at this point, even if the change in itself is not significant, because it perhaps suggests a resurgence in their confidence to come up with new ideas and contradict the old scholarship of Fred Franz. Maybe more interesting changes will follow.
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  Chalam

  even if the change in itself is not significant

  I'd say all the changes are highly significant, even if textually they seems insignificant.

  No doubt, they will quote this verse in the publications or "from the platform" when speaking of [de]field service™.

  All the best,

  Stephen
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  Leolaia

  It is worth pointing out that the same word in Job 7:1 was already rendered as "compulsory labor" prior to this revision. So while it is probable that the word "service" in this negative context is being eschewed, there is already a precedent for the "compulsory labor" rendering in a very similar text in the same book.