Texts in Conversation
In the Hebrew version of Jonah, the prophet says those who cling to worthless idols give up the divine mercy that could be theirs. The Greek Septuagint sharpens this, calling the idols not just empty but false and deceptive.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Jonah 2:8
Hebrew Bible
7 When my life was ebbing away, I called out to the Lord. And my prayer came to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who worship worthless idols forfeit the mercy that could be theirs. 9 But as for me, I promise to offer a sacrifice to you with a public declaration of praise; I will surely do what I have promised. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
LXX Jonah 2:9
Septuagint
7 I went down into the earth where its bars are eternal barriers, so let the corruption of my life depart, O Lord, my God. 8 When my life was coming to an end from me I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you into your holy temple. 9 Observing pointless and false things, they have forsaken their mercy.
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Notes and References
... The versions treated the phrase differently. Although the Septuagint (mataia kai pseude) and the Old Latin (vana et falsa) inserted a conjunction between the words, hendiadys merges them into one concept, “false vanities.” Aquila (see above) and Symmachus (atmous mataious) approximated the Hebrew, while the Vulgate (qui custodiunt vanitates frustra) became more interested in the nature of the act and therefore treated saw’ as an adverbial accusative, “they who pointlessly retain vanities.” Worrying lest the reader attach nefarious deeds to Israel, the Targum supplied two words and unabashedly paraphrased the rest of the line, “Not as the nations, worshipers of idols (who do not understand the source of their well-being).” (On all of these matters, see Trible 1963: 39 and Levine 1978: 79–80.) ...
Sasson, Jack M.
Jonah: A New Translation with Introduction, Commentary, and Interpretation
(p. 197) Doubleday, 1990
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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