Interesting NWT translation deviation

B_Deserter

Wikipedia Artice

I was reading a little bit about Lilith and I noticed the list about 1/4 down the page showing what various modern translations render the Hebrew lilit in Isaiah 34:14. I found it interesting that while most translations render it in an accurate form (night monster, vampire, night hag, Lilith, or night creature), the NWT breaks with this and renders it "Nightjar," which is a common nocturnal bird. Do you think the society rendered this verse so that it would make Isaiah seem less of a myth (talking about vampires and demons of the night doesn't really help the Bible stay on the credibility wagon)?

4mylove

Very interesting...

Paralipomenon

You didn't read last month's questions from the readers did you, brother?

blueviceroy

I must confess I have fallen totally off the creadability wagon as far as the bible is concerned , after long and long study I have concluded that it is indeed a BOOK. I plan to study other religious books as well. Something hasa happened to me and I now see religions as myths and I see God when I look in peoples eyes.

aniron

The Blueletterbible.com give this definition for the Hebrew word

1) "Lilith", name of a female goddess known as a night demon who haunts the desolate places of Edom

a) might be a nocturnal animal that inhabits desolate places

4mylove

Beautiful Blue! I see him there too sometimes. In my mother's eyes, my sisters eyes, my husbands eyes, my brothers' eyes, my fathers eyes,.....and definately in babies eyes

Narkissos

As the (excellent) Wiki article shows, the NWT is not unique in choosing a "natural" rather than "supernatural" rendering. I guess this reflects the embarrassment of modern Western translators, as early as the KJV (in addition their ignorance of the Ancient Near East mythological background of the word) regarding mythology in general. An attitude which has just been changing recently with a more positive approach of mythology.

oompa

Dang it PARA: You didn't read last month's questions from the readers did you, brother?

What the hey was it....dont make me go hunt.....oompa

Leolaia

A similar approach is taken by many translations in rendering Hebrew lwytn as "crocodile", when the name is cognate to the dragons Lotan and Ladon in Canaanite and Greek mythology, respectively, although the creature is definitely presented in the OT as a dragon with language virtually mimicking that of the older Canaanite myth: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/68098/1.ashx

Interesting NWT translation deviation

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