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A CC0 licenced modern English translation of the Bible
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1 Samuel 1:6 Better-Wording #321

Open johnrigdon opened 4 years ago

johnrigdon commented 4 years ago

1 Samuel 1:6 Her rival used to vex

Peninnah used to taunt her

Coburn commented 4 years ago

I advise strongly against substituting "Penninah" for "her rival." The Word explicitly uses צרה, "her rival, enemy." I think that because you are a man, you miss the importance of this social dynamic. You should probably go and read "Guests of the Sheik" before proceeding any further, to understand female culture in the Middle East.

This is a VERY interesting verse. Thanks for bringing it up. What does it mean? "Her rival used to provoke her, and press the issue (גם־כעס), for the express purpose of making her furious, because the Lord had prevented her from getting pregnant." There are so many tantalizing translation puzzles in that short phrase!

Thanks,

Coby

On Sun, Feb 9, 2020 at 11:05 AM johnrigdon notifications@github.com wrote:

1 Samuel 1:6 Her rival used to vex

Peninnah used to taunt her

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openenglishbible commented 4 years ago

I certainly wouldn't want to drop 'rival'. A number of other translations have made the choice that the bare word 'rival' could lead to confusion, ie a modern reader not understanding who is referred to. Solutions vary:

Drop Rival: CEV: Peninnah liked to make Hannah feel miserable about not having any children

Specify reference: GNT: Peninnah, her rival, would torment and humiliate her, because the LORD had kept her childless

Add hint: NET: Her rival wife used to upset her and make her worry, for the LORD had not enabled her to have children

(as an aside: 'the LORD had not enabled her to have children' really doesn't work for me. Makes Hannah sound like an iPhone!)

I'd be definitely open to something other than 'vex' which to my ears sounds archaic (and much less forceful than it should be).

And thanks Coby for the reference to the book, which I haven't read and sounds fascinating.