Memorizing verses is a great practice. When I was a child, at church we had contests to see who could quote the verse that our youth leader referenced. We began to learn Scripture that way; however, as the Apostle Paul said: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways” (I Corinthians 13:11).
How might Paul’s observation apply to what I said about memorizing verses? It’s not the verses, they are good. It is the tendency to quit there, to assume that any verse encapsulates the truth and can stand alone without the rest of the passage or the rest of the Bible. The second problem is the tendency to trust one translation and not compare other translations to see how other reputable scholars have decided to translate from Hebrew or Greek to English.
Today, I am going to pick out two only verses (always a dangerous proposition) in order to show how a verse in one favorite translation can be misused to support something that it does not say.
The first verse is Proverbs 11: 14, which says in the New Revised Standard Version: “Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
First, let’s check two other translations.
“Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (King James Version).
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers” (New International Version).
We can see that translations vary; for example, translators chose either ‘counsel’ or ‘guidance’, ‘the people’ or ‘a nation’, ‘safety’ or ‘victory’. All are possible, but the choice depends on context. In addition, this verse could be read in a secular sense without a spiritual side, and that is a problem. However, another translation of the word for ‘safety’ is ‘salvation’, and only God can accomplish that. This is supported when we find that the word translated ‘fall’ can mean something more like ‘fall away’ or ‘fall short’.
Moving on: This verse reminds me of another more popular verse, one you hear and see all the time.
Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (King James Version).
Actually, most people cut this verse short by leaving off the last phrase.[1] It is interesting who quotes this, and what translation they prefer to make their point.
I wanted to see how people have used this verse. I found website after website misusing this verse; then I found one that got it right.[2]
Those who misuse the verse, famous TV preachers among them, prefer to quote the King James Version. Their interpretation, and they are not alone, takes the English word ‘vision’ to mean what the corporate world means. Even in the church, I have sat at meetings where we were directed by our Bishop to come up with a ‘vision statement’. Corporate types often talk of ‘casting a vision’ and ‘visionary leadership’. Even the church implies that a strong pastor must cast a vision and get the people to follow.
In this interpretation, the ‘vision’ is a plan for the future that a leader promotes and his/her followers carry out. In politics, it is implied that a weak leader or a vision-less leader will end up destroying the nation. Well, maybe. A leader with a warped vision could destroy the nation too.
Now, let’s check two other translations of this verse.
“Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law” (New Revised Standard Version).
“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction” (New International Version)
Ahhh. No wonder those who push the ‘vision’ idea prefer to quote from the King James Version. The Hebrew word for ‘vision’ here is the same word that the prophet Isaiah uses in his introductory statement. “The vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem…” (Isaiah 1:1). When he uses the word translated as ‘vision’, he is talking about the prophecies that he received from God.
The other prophets use the same word as well to talk about the ‘visions’ that the Lord gave them and commanded them to preach. Preaching is prophesying. So, what Proverbs is talking about is not a man-made vision-statement, that is, not the creative imaginings of a bold leader after all. The Hebrew word translated ‘vision’ doesn’t mean that. It is closer to ‘prophecy’ or ‘revelation’.
It helps to have a couple different translations, especially if we do not know Hebrew or Greek. The verses can mean something different when we consider the alternative translations.
The difference for these two verses is that the writer is talking about God’s word (prophecy or revelation), and God’s guidance (counsel or advice). It is a good reminder that the Bible is about God, and not about us.[3] The Bible is secondarily about the created world, but even then Scripture tells us how we should relate to God and each other. It’s not about us.
[1] Just like people tend to shorten the 2nd Amendment, citing only the second half. The first half gives the reason for permitting arms. Read it and see what the conditions are.
[3] As Dr. Strange learned at the end of a recent movie (2016), a simple but important lesson about the universe is that, “It’s not about you.” (Spoken by Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One; thanks to Adam for this tip.) Elijah had a similar moment when God asked him what he was doing hiding in a cave. Elijah answered that he had been very zealous for the Lord, but now “I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” God gives him some instructions for anointing kings of Syria and Israel, then informs Elijah that, “I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Ba’al, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (I Kings 19: 14, 18). So, it wasn’t about Elijah and he was not alone. Don’t worry, God’s got this.