02-27-2010, 08:37 PM
Quote:One reason I prefer the New Jerusalem Bible is that it uses the Hebrew names for God -- 'Yahweh', 'El Shaddai', 'Elohim' and 'Adonai.' This usage helps to explain the curious verses found in other bibles, like this one from the RSV ...
"I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them." (Ex 6:2-3)
The NJB has, "I am Yahweh. To Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I appeared as El Shaddai, but I did not make my name Yahweh known to them."
A footnote in the NJB says 'El Shaddai' probably means 'God of the Mountain' or 'God of the open wastes'. And Karen Armstrong, being a feminist, prefers 'many-breasted God.' But it doesn't mean 'God Almighty.'
In the RSV, you also sometimes find 'LORD' and 'Lord' in the same verse, a translation that is ridiculous and confusing.

