Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Reg Rangihuna on Leviticus 11 - 1 year ago
    Regarding the hebrew word H8580 Tinshemeth or Tanshamath in Leviticus ch 11v 18 as rendered as being "swan" and then rendered again in verse 30 as "mole". This is actually not confusing but simply an incorrect translation. The reason it was incorrectly translated is unsure but the many scholars that have agreed it to be incorrect, confusing or some that even use words like probable, perhaps or maybe the unclean bird. This will leave enough doubt for one to except that when in doubt one should leave it out. That in itself is confusion. One should study and show oneself approved to rightly divide the word.

    The Most High Almighty is not a God of confusion. On the other hand man in his carnal state can confuse simple logic and commonsense. There has been reference that Charles Darwin is involved in the evolution theory of lizards evoluting into birds in the early 1860s.

    So why was tanshamath injected in verse 18 as being swan then verse 30 as mole when there are two separate categories, flying fowl and creeping things. also, why didnt it say in verse 18 ... swan and after its kind which would then include the duck and geese as they are from the anatidae family. Interesting too is that "owl" is used in verse 17 running into verse 18...In my opinion the barn-owl fits the description of tanshamath in verse 18 as a greater possibility.

    Barn owl is the most likely and the Ibis bird is the second other likely bird but definitively not the swan.

    Why would swan be chosen? One theory is that the royal family made laws to protect the swan for their own banquet comsumption. I found this on the Royal Family site.

    The Crown has held the right to claim ownership of all unmarked mute swans swimming in open waters throughout the country from as far back as the twelfth century. Historically, valuable rights of ownership were subsequently granted by the monarch to many people and organisations as swans were a prized food, served at banquets and feasts.
  • Streetpreacher - In Reply on Leviticus 11 - 1 year ago
    Enjoyed the study greatly.
  • Chris - In Reply on Leviticus 11 - 1 year ago
    Good read Reg. There can be some translations that appear confusing, given the same (Hebrew) word being used in different instances. As in Leviticus 11:18 & Deuteronomy 14:16, where 'swan' is the given translation (amongst the 'fowls'). Then in Leviticus 11:30, 'mole' is given using the same Hebrew word for this animal (amongst the 'creeping things').

    Your theory about the protection of the swan, for royalty sake, is a possibility, yet it remains how could the same Hebrew word be used for two different types of animals. I'm sure the translators would have spent much time struggling with what to do/how to translate in such circumstances. Maybe if there was uncertainty at the original manuscript level, then it remains open as to how one chooses to translate the same word for an animal which flies and another that can only creep.

    Even a look at Chabad dot org, applying these same Scriptures there, I find different animals used for the three verses (magpie, bat, mole). That being the case & the Jew who is strictly subject to the ruling & finding no problem, I think we should not stress over this one and leave it as an uncertainty. Thanks for your research.



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