| From Eternity or From Ancient Times? |
At the back of his translation of the Bible, AnAmerican Translation, Dr. William F. Beck has listed a number of scriptural passages inboth Testaments that he had felt some other translators have not rendered correctly in regardto the Messiah. One of these is Micah 5: 2.
I have included the whole verse as it is translated by Dr. Beck. However, itis the end of the verse that is in question. Thus, I have quoted only that part with thethirty-nine other versions. Because a basic Christian doctrine is involved, I have chosen tocompare so many. The changes are so subtle that the average Christian may not recognize themor may not feel that they are of any consequence.
After listing all of these, I have made comments on what I have seen.However, I leave it to the reader to decide for himself whether or not these variations areimportant.
| Versions Compared |
| Micah5: 2 |
| AAT | You, Bethlehem [Ephrathah], too small to be one of Judah's clans, from you there will come out for Me, One Who Is to Rule Israel who real comings are from the eternal past. |
| AB | Whose going s forth have been from of old, from ancient days -- eternity. |
| DHB | whose goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity. |
| EBR | Whose comings forth have been from of old from the days of age-past time. |
| EVD | His beginnings are from ancient times. from long, long ago. |
| GW | His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago. |
| HBME | Who brought you, long ago, in old times from the East; |
| HBRV | whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. |
| IB | and His goings forth have been from old, from the days of eternity. |
| IV | whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. |
| KJV | whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. |
| KTC | Whence comes he? From the first beginning, from ages untold! Footnote: 'From ages untold'; literally, 'from the days of eternity,' but this is aphrase used somewhat loosely by Hebrew authors, and no certain theological inferences can bebased on it. |
| LB | who is alive from everlasting ages past. |
| LBP | whose goings forth have been predicted from of old, from eternity. |
| LXX | and his goings forth have been from the beginning, even from eternity. |
| MNT | one whose origin is of old, of long descent. |
| MRB | whose goings forth are from old, from ancient days. |
| NAB | Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. |
| NAS | His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity. |
| NBV | His goings forth are from of old, from days of eternity. |
| NCV | He comes from very old times, from days long ago. |
| NEB | one whose roots are far back in the past, in days gone by. |
| NIV | whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Footnote: origins: Hebrew goings out. Footnote: ancient times: Or from days of eternity. |
| NJB | whose origins go back to the distant past, to the days of old. |
| NJPS | One whose origin is from of old, From ancient times. |
| NKJ | Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting. |
| NLT | one whose origins are from the distant past. |
| NLV | His coming was planned long ago, from the beginning. |
| NWT | whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite. |
| REB | one whose origins are far back in the past, in ancient times. |
| RSV | whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. |
| SARV | whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. |
| SBK | And his origin is from of old, From ages long past. |
| SGAT | Whose origins are from of old, From ancient days. |
| SNB | whose comings forth have been from of old, from the days of age-past time. |
| SSBE | whose origin is from an ancient era, from ages of eternity. |
| TDB | whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. |
| TEV | whose family line goes back to ancient times. |
| TJB | his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. |
| YLR | And his comings forth are of old, From the days of antiquity. |
| Word Definitions |
There are a few words that carry specific meanings in this passage. I shallstate the meaning of each, as is found in Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of theEnglish Language, International Edition.
| Age | Any great and distant period of time in the history of man, of the earth, etc.;era; epoch. |
| Ancient | Existing or occurring in times long gone by, especially before the fall of the Roman Empirein the West, in 476; belonging to or having existed from a remote antiquity. |
| Antiquity | The state or quality of being ancient; ancient times, people, or civilization. |
| Beginning | The starting point in space, time, or action; the source or first cause of anything. |
| Day | A time or period; an age. |
| Era | A historical period or reckoning of years, dating from some important event or fixed pointof time; an epoch; the beginning of a period. |
| Eternal | Having neither beginning nor end of existence; infinite duration; everlasting; having noend; independent of time or its conditions. |
| Eternity | Infinite duration or existence; an endless or limitless time. |
| Everlasting | Lasting forever; eternal; past or future endless duration. |
| Origin | The commencement of the existence of anything; a primary source. |
| Time | A considerable period marked of by some special characteristics; indefinite duration viewedin the concrete as measurable and terminable, but not precisely limited. |
| Commentary |
The only words which refer to beyond the parameters of time are eternal,eternity, and everlasting. All others have limits, thus not defining pre-creation.A few versions infer, by their terminology, pre-creation. Several infer post-creation. Otherstend to hedge on the issue, using both, thus creating an incongruous situation. Can an elementbe of a pre-creation factor, yet be limited by a post-creation factor? Time is of no essence ineternity.
The whole passage states that Bethlehem would be the site of the birth of theMessiah and that the Messiah would rule Israel. Then, there is a difference in interpretationas to whether or not He existed before the creation. This implication may or may not have beenthe intent of the translators. It is recognized that there can be problems in accuratelytranslating a word or idea. However, the word usage in the various versions creates thedilemma.
The use of the words origin, origins, and beginningsnegates the fact that the Messiah could be eternal in existence. This poses a question askedin university philosophy classes. Who created the Creator? John 1: 3, in most versions,states that the Messiah (or the Word) is the creator. The plural forms would suggest thecommencement of His existence more than one time. Not one of the forms suggests that He iseternal. The phrase goings forth carry a different connotation, having the sense ofactivity, not origin. Also, these words and those words which imply a time element would negatethe doctrine that Yahshua is Yahweh. Christian religions already have a difference of opinionas to the status of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit in relation to each other. This isa fundamental matter in regard to Christian doctrine.
A few versions refer to His earthly lineage. Which is more important, Hisearthly heritage or his pre-creation existence? This would depend upon whether His role asruler of Israel is from a mortal or immortal perspective.
The problem is now before the reader. Based upon the quotations, who is theOne to be born at Bethlehem, and what is His status? Are the differences in the wording merelysemantics, or do they involve basic doctrine? If the differences are considered to be of majorconsequence, has there been an evolution in doctrine? If they are not major, does it reallymatter what the wording is? If you see a problem with this passage, might there not beproblems with others? Are you willing to be diligent in searching the Scriptures and seekingguidance from Yahweh for proper understanding?
I have presented a question of translation and interpretation to you, thereader. The next step is up to you.