Daniel 4:27 question

[crisco]

So here’s something that I found interesting. I’m sure there’s been much debate over the translation of this verse throughout the years. But it’s all new to me
Have a look at the following translations of Daniel 4:27

NRSV Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.

DR Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and redeem thou thy sins with alms, and thy iniquities with works of mercy to the poor: perhaps he will forgive thy offences.

KJV Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and **break off **thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

NIV Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.

Can anyone provide insight into the word(s) that I’ve bolded in each translation? - what are the words used in the Hebrew and/or Greek translations?

Thanks!

 

[Peter_Dawson]

The Masoretic Hebrew transliterated is “phrq,” “peraq,” meaning “be torn away from.” The KJV, with “break off,” is closest. The NIV’s “renounce” is next closest. “Atone” and “redeem” seem like they have been “euphemized.”

 

[Cachonga]

Keep in mind the the DR is a translation of a translation (Hebrew to Latin, Latin to English). Things can get jumbled in translation sometimes (I remember an old Kung Fu movie that was translated from Chinese to Spanish, then to English; the hero went from being an awesome swordsman in Chinese to being a terrible swordsman in English).

 

[crisco]

thanks!
what about the Greek?

 

[Verbum]

HI Crisco,

I use the French Jerusalem Bible. Here is what it says ;

Break your sins with works of justice and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, so that you may have long-lasting safety.

The Hebrew (or rather Aramaic in this chapter) does say “break”, according to BJ. The footnote explains that an aramaic noun derived from the Hebrew for “break” actually means “salvation” or “redemption”. That is why some translate “redeem”. It is easy to see from the various translations that the translators are puzzled by this. So they come up with several versions. But the general meaning is clear : shape up and things will turn out all right.

The old and new Vulgates have “redime” (redeem). The Septuagint has λύτρωσαι (lytrôsai = redeem)

By the way, this is verse 23 in my bible and it is verse 24 in some others. This, I understand, is because the order of the sentences can vary, depending on the manuscripts you follow.

Verbum

 

[crisco]

thanks Verbum, very helpful as well.

 

[Peter_Dawson]

thanks!
what about the Greek?

By “Greek” I assume that you mean the Septuagint, known to Christ Himself.

Whoever translated the pre-Masoretic Hebrew into the Deuterocanonical Greek of the Septuagint in Alexandria in the centuries before Christ rendered the Hebrew term “tear away” or “break away” as “lutrosai,” meaning “ransom.”

I checked Jerome, to see how he rendered the Deuterocanonical Greek in Vulgate Latin. He wrote “redime,” “you redeem” or “you ransom.”

 

[Jesus_123]

Blessed St. Jerome
pray for us
guide us
as our completely trustworthy guide
we pray in Jesus Holy Name . . .

"He afflicted thee with want, and gave thee manna for thy food, which neither thou nor thy fathers knew: to shew that not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God."
Deuteronomy 8:3
:bible1:

*

. . . Praise God from Whom
all blessings flow ! +
*​

 

[crisco]

I can see how “break away” or “to be torn away from” would have the conotation of redemption - being released or gaining freedom from sin’s grasp and its consequences. And furthermore, the verse seems to indicate that the way in which one accomplishes this is through ‘good works’ or perhaps almsgiving/charity towards the poor. Prof Gary Anderson (Notre Dame) has an outstanding article that deals with this idea in last month’s (May) First Things (was available free for a while). If you have a subscription, check it out.