The God of the Details

We can get insights into God's character through studying multiple Bible translations. In my daily devotions, I normally use two bibles. One is the New International Version (NIV) and the other is The Message (MSG). I usually carry the Message to church, because it is larger print (I can read it without glasses if the lighting is bright), and because our pastor usually preaches out of something else, and I like having the contrast in my hands. In my quiet time with God, I like switching back and forth between them. If I come to a critical passage, then I will use a phone app to look up other translations. (Technically, The Message is not a translation, but rather is a paraphrase. It is a retelling in modern American English. I find it helpful because it is different enough that it makes me think. Sometimes it offers a fresh perspective, and different nuance.)

Using multiple translations to look at the same passage is important, because often there are not direct correlations between languages. For example, there are four Greek words for Love used in the New Testament. But in our boring English, we have one word. "Love." (Booo.) Since we don't speak Greek, the translators must convey meaning in other ways besides the literal translation. I am reminded of humorist Dave Barry's description of his visit to Japan and learning English for Business there. He explained it something like this:

That is an interesting proposal. (This means No.)

We will consider this carefully. (This means No.)

We are not certain. (This means No.)

This might be possible. (This means No.)

All translations are compromises. They compromise between using the exact word (there may not be an exact equivalent in the other language), and between using an approximate word or phrase that their target audience will understand, so that the words themselves will not be a stumbling block. Also, words often have cultural context beyond the littoral meaning of the word. In Mexican Spanish, you might hear the word "manana" which means "tomorrow." But in actual usage, the timing of tomorrow is in the indefinite future. "When will you clean out the garage?" the wife asks. "Tomorrow" is the husband's reply. Meaning "When I get to it, but it probably won't be anytime soon." Bible translators must take these factors into account. For example, when Isaiah 1:18 was being translated into a tribal language in Sub-Saharan Africa the translators ran into an issue. Here is the verse, quoted from the NIV:

"Come now , let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they are red as crimson, they shall be as wool."

This isolated tribe had never seen snow- didn't know what it was. So the translators chose to substitute the name of a local grain that had a very bleached appearance and conveyed the meaning of purity. Other great examples are Da Jesus Book, a New Testament published by Wycliffe in Hawaiian Pidgin and The First Nations Version of the New Testament, written in the story- telling style of the indigenous peoples of North America. Both had tremendous success in touching hearts because "God speaks my language!", as one reader exclaimed.

Possibly my favorite example of how different translations start with the same source material but give different insights through how they translate it is Exodus 6:2-3. In context, Moses has gone to Pharaoh on God's orders to tell him to let the Hebrew slaves go free. Instead, Pharaoh makes things harder on them by taking away the straw supply but still requiring the same quota of bricks. Moses comes back to God (Exodus 5:22-23) and complains about God's mission for him being unfair. God listens to his little temper tantrum, tells Moses that he is about to see what God will do to Pharaoh, and then lets Moses in on a secret. God is going to tell Moses some of his other names. Why? Because Hebrew names described a person's character or actions, much like in the native American tribes. (Remember the character Stands-With-A-Fist from the Kevin Costner movie Dances With Wolves? And God's first response to Moses asking his name in Exodus 3:14 was to tell him "I AM WHO I AM has sent you to them.") Now God elaborates. Here is how the NIV translates it:

God also said to Moses, "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."

Here it is in The Message:

God continued speaking to Moses, reassuring him, "I am GOD. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as The Strong God, but by my name GOD (I-Am-Present) I was not known to them."

For me as a native English speaker, the names and syntax are still a little awkward. But the 1611 (Authorized) King James version (KJV) gives important clues, if you understand the code:

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH I was not known to them.

These translators 400 years ago encountered this same problem. The source text had names for God that were FULL of meaning (if you speak ancient Hebrew,) but they had less meaning for us as English speakers. So they inserted a code into the translation, to help us understand which name for God was in use and therefore which character attribute of God we should keep in mind when reading the passage. In the Authorized King James version, anytime they use the word "God," the Hebrew word is Elohim. "El" part means "strength" and the "im" in the second half of the name means it is a plural name. (Think of the doctrine of the Trinity, but that's a different discussion.) Also, Elohim was a generic name for god. The translators capitalize the "G" to let us know WHICH Elohim was being discussed. In fact, in Genesis 14:18, Abram encounters Melchizadek, king of Salem, priest of "The Most High God." The name here is a variation of the same root "El." Here it is "El-Elyon." Elyon is superlative, making this name mean "Strong-Strongest" or alternatively, "High-Highest." Or as the translators put it "The MOST high god." The deity higher than all the others.

In the KJV translation of this passage, the name translated "the LORD" is the Hebrew name Adonai, which is the plural form of the the word Adon, meaning "Master." Next we have the name "God Almighty." The Hebrew name here is El-Shaddai. "El" means strength, and was used by itself in many passages as the name of the deity. But "shad" is the word for a woman's breast. So The Shaddai could be interpreted as 'the breasted one." If you combine the two, you get "The strong breasted one who nourishes us."

Finally, we come to the name "Jehovah." This was the Hebrew name "YHWH." Notice that it is all consonants, and no vowels? This is because the vowels were spoken, but not written. My understanding is that for centuries, religious Jews dared not speak this proper name for God out loud, out of reverence for His holiness. And so the memory of WHICH vowels belonged here was lost. The King James translators changed the Y to a J, added a E, kept the H, changed the W to OV, added an A, and kept the final H. This left them with a made-up name "Jehovah" which we have been happily using for 400 years. But now, scholars believe the correct way to say it is "Yah-weh." It has connotations of self-existence. (Remember, God told Moses back in chapter 3 to tell the Hebrews his name was I AM THAT I AM?) It also sounds like the breath entering and leaving our lungs, which is a wonderfully symbolic tangent to pursue another day...

So here is the King James passage with the Hebrew names substituted, (with amplification by me.)

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Adonai, (the Master.) And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob as El Shaddai, (the strong breasted-one who sustains you and gives you life,) but by my name Yahweh, (the Eternal self-existent one) I was not known to them.

Or as I see it, God was emphasizing his character to Moses. "I am The-One-In-Charge. Your ancestors knew me as the strong provider, but I am ETERNAL, and I am going to take care of you..."

That's pretty awesome! But my very favorite translation isn't even in English. I really love how one of my Russian bibles translates El-Shaddai. The word they chose was "Bog Vsyo- Mogooshii." "Bog" is equivalent of our word God. "Vsyo" means "everything." "Mogoo" is how you say you are able. If I want to say that I can do a task, I would say in Russian "Ya Mogoo." Or, "I am able." Or as a toddler might want to emphasize, "I can do this all by myself!" The last part of the word "shii" denotes the one who does. So put it together and you get "God- Everything- Is personally able- actually does these things." (This is why word-for-word translation is not the ultimate goal for the translator. Conveying truth is.) But if we play with the word order to fit English syntax, we get "The-God-Who-Is-Able-To-Do-Everything." He's the God of the details.

When I was growing up, we used the 1611 King James Version exclusively, and so the name God Almighty was familiar and comfortable for me. For me, it meant the God who does the great big mighty things. He heals the sick and raises the dead! But what about the little things in my life. (I had a college friend, a brand-new believer who prayed for good parking spaces-- and got them!) She didn't know that God couldn't-- SHOULDN'T be bothered with such little things, right? Except He's not just God Almighty-- The-God-Who-Can-Do-ANYTHING, but He is God Vsyo-Mogooshii-- The-God-Who-Takes-Care-Of-Everything." The God of the Details. Or as my friend Tanya calls him, The Mogooshii-- the Able One.

Perhaps like me, you're a spiritual over-thinker. You are constantly trying to think of all the angles, and you are spiritually hyperventilating in your prayer time. "But God, what about this? And this! And there is THIS, God! What am I going to do!?! (Maybe I need a paper bag to breathe into to calm down?)

The image that came to mind just now is that of a newborn infant that is hungry and wants to nurse. He is laying on his mothers breast and is rooting around, trying to find the nipple (It's right there!) but he isn't finding it and becoming ever more anxious! So pitiful! Then he finally latches on, and his heart stops pounding. His mother's arms are around him, he is getting fed, and all is right with the world.

If this is you, if you are absolutely overwhelmed with life, remember this: El Shaddai, the strong breasted provider, is also the God of the details. And he's going to take care of you.