From 52813e4076cb387232e99200e5cae6ad97f2a374 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Perry J Oakes Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2024 19:34:14 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] add examples of "the life of Yahweh" as oath formula. --- translate/writing-oathformula/01.md | 31 +++++++++++++++++++++++++---- 1 file changed, 27 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/translate/writing-oathformula/01.md b/translate/writing-oathformula/01.md index 502581bd..7d424d71 100644 --- a/translate/writing-oathformula/01.md +++ b/translate/writing-oathformula/01.md @@ -1,12 +1,11 @@ - -An oath is a solemn promise that someone makes to another person to do something or to solemnly testify that something is true that includes a punishment if the person does not do it. +An oath is a solemn promise that someone makes to another person to do something or to solemnly testify that something is true. The oath includes the idea of punishment if the person making the oath does not do the thing promised or if what the person says is not true. ### Description -As a guarantee that the person taking the oath will do what he promises, the person calls on God to punish him severely if he does not do the thing promised, or if what he testifies to is not true. Sometimes the person will name a deity different than God as punisher or will name something that the person holds sacred. In the case of a sacred object, the idea is that the person is willing to let that object be desecrated if he does not fulfill his oath. So an oath has four parts, some of which are often left implied: +As a guarantee that the person taking the oath will do what he promises, the person calls on God to witness the oath and to punish him severely if he does not do the thing promised, or if what he testifies to is not true. Sometimes the person will not name God directly but will instead name something holy that is associated with God, such as the temple. In some situations, a person might name a different authority, such as a king. A complete oath has four parts, but some of them are often left unspoken and only implied: 1. Calling on God to witness the oath and judge the person making it 2. Making the promise (may be implied as the opposite of the violation) 3. Telling what would be a violation of the oath (may be implied as the opposite of the promise) -4. Saying what punishment God would do if the person violates the oath +4. Saying what punishment God would do if the person violates the oath (often implied) #### Reasons This Is a Translation Issue: @@ -26,6 +25,15 @@ Ruth calls on Yahweh and includes the part about Yahweh punishing her, says what Saul takes an oath that Jonathan will die, but does not specifically say whom God would punish, what the punishment would be, or what the person would do that would violate the oath and bring about God's punishment. +> But indeed, the life of Yahweh and the life of yourself, that between me and between death is like a step!” (1 Samuel 20:3)
+ +A Hebrew idiom that signals that the speaker is making an oath is the phrase “the life of…,” usually followed by “Yahweh.” Here, Jonathan has been trying to assure David that he has nothing to fear from Saul, so David uses an oath to convince Jonathan that Saul does indeed want to kill David. David implies that he holds both Yahweh’s and Jonathan’s life as sacred and invites punishment from both of them if he is wrong. + +> The life of Pharaoh, if you leave from this {place} without your youngest brother coming here. (Genesis 42:15)
+ +Joseph is speaking to his brothers as an Egyptian official, and so he calls on Pharaoh as his divine authority rather than on the God of the Hebrews. + + ### Translation Strategies If people who speak your language would recognize the oath as it is in the ULT, consider translating it in its current form. If not, consider using the following strategies. @@ -46,12 +54,24 @@ If people who speak your language would recognize the oath as it is in the ULT, And Saul said, “May God **punish me severely** and may he add **even more punishment if I do not kill you**, for dying you will die, Jonathan.” +> But indeed, the life of Yahweh and the life of yourself, that between me and between death is like a step! (1 Samuel 20:3) + +But indeed, **may** Yahweh and **you** yourself **punish me if it is not true** that between me and death is like a step! + +> The life of Pharaoh, if you leave from this {place} without your youngest brother coming here. (Genesis 42:15) + +**May** Pharaoh **himself punish me** if you leave from this {place} without your youngest brother coming here. + (2) If oaths are unfamiliar, add a short explanation of what an oath is. > May Yahweh do thus to me, and thus may he add, if death separates between me and between you. (Ruth 1:17 ULT) **Then Ruth called on Yahweh to enforce her promise:** “May Yahweh do thus to me, and thus may he add, if death separates between me and between you.” +> But indeed, the life of Yahweh and the life of yourself, that between me and between death is like a step! (1 Samuel 20:3) + +**Then David called on Yahweh to assure Jonathan that what he was saying was true:** “But indeed, **I invite** Yahweh and **you** yourself **to punish me if it is not true** that between me and death is like a step!” + (3) Put the oath into a form that would be natural in your language. > “I raise my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth, if from a thread even to the strap of a sandal, or if I take from anything that {belongs} to you, so that you will not say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ (Genesis 14:22-23 ULT) @@ -62,3 +82,6 @@ And Saul said, “May God **punish me severely** and may he add **even more puni May Yahweh **strike me dead right where I stand** if death separates between me and between you. +> But indeed, the life of Yahweh and the life of yourself, that between me and between death is like a step! (1 Samuel 20:3) + +But indeed, **before** Yahweh and **before you** yourself, **I swear** that between me and death is like a step! \ No newline at end of file