Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Exodus 3:19-21 – NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV
Exodus 3:19-21 NASB “But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. (20) “So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. (21) “I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.
Exodus 3:19-21 HCSB “However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, unless he is forced by a strong hand. (20) I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles that I will perform in it. After that, he will let you go. (21) And I will give this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.
Exodus 3:19-21 ESV But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. (20) So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. (21) And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,
The “compulsion” (19) of the NASB is literally translated in the HCSB and ESV as “strong hand” or “mighty hand.” The older HCSB puts brackets around “he is forced” because that is not in the text. The updated version that I am using does not, as does not the ESV. I like the brackets because the visual distraction is worth the mental fact acknowledging the addition to the original language.
Equally important to the literal translation is the word connection between v.19-20 that is lost in the NASB. A “strong hand” comes when God will “stretch out (His) hand.” The same word in Hebrew is used in both. In verse 21, the HCSB continues the picture by translating “empty-handed” although the ESV is technically correct with its translation of “empty.”
Comments