Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianT
Hi all,
So you're saying the scripture was always correct, even though it is plural in Hebrew, but its an error to retain the plural when translating. Sorry, but that's not exactly convincing.
Is the idea that Gen 1:1 is an overview really such a "length"? I am not arguing that the KJV is wrong, I am challenging the idea that it is wrong to translate the plural as a plural in this verse. If the KJV translated it as a plural, and the NKJV as a singular, I have no doubt that you would be opposing translating the plural Hebrew as a singular in this instance.
God bless,
Brian
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Yes, Brian. It is wrong to translate "heaven" as "heavens" in Genesis 1:1.
The first error in the NKJV, NIV, NASB and many other modern versions is found in the first verse. "In the beginning God created the HEAVEN and the earth." Notice it is the heaven - singular. This is the reading of the King James Bible, Wycliffe, 1395, Coverdale 1535, Bishops' Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible, the Revised Version, the Jewish Pub. Society translation of 1917 and Hebrew Publishing Company of 1936, Webster's 1833 translation, the Diodati and modern Italian, Douay, 21st Century KJV and the Bible in Basic English of 1965.
However the NKJV, RSV, NASB, NIV, ESV, Youngs, and the Holman Standard have the HEAVENS - plural. There are three heavens mentioned in Scripture. The third heaven is where God and His throne are now. Paul tells us he was caught up to the third heaven, into paradise and heard words not lawful for man to utter - 2 Cor. 12: 2-4. The second heaven is where the sun, moon, stars are physically located and the first heaven is the realm of the clouds, flying birds and wind.
But notice that what God created in verse 1 is the heaven (singular) and the earth. The heaven where the fowl fly, clouds form and winds blow was not created until the second day in verse 8. "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day." You see, in verse one there was only one heaven created by God and it wasn't until the second day that God made the firmament to divide the waters under the firmament from those above it. Thus we have the seas below and the rain clouds above.
The King James Bible is correct in saying In the beginning God created the heaven (singular) and the earth. The modern versions that say "heavens" are incorrect.
Will K