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Aramaic rendering of "LORD God" - Printable Version

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Aramaic rendering of "LORD God" - Keith - 12-06-2003

Paul,

In English there are two words concerning deity which we translate as "Lord". If the Hebrew word is "Adonay" we translate that word as "Lord". If the Hebrew word is "YHWH" (Jehovah) we translate that word as "LORD" unless it immediately follows "Adonay". In the Bible if we see the English word "Lord" we know that word means "Adonay" every single time. If we see the same word spelled "LORD" it always means "YHWH" (Jehovah), always. If we see the word "God" it comes from the Hebrew "Elohim" (or any of the derivatives of Elohim like El, Eloah, etc.). If we see "GOD" you will notice that this word only follows the word "Lord", in this case all capitals "GOD" also means "YHWH". Here is a flow sheet:

Lord= Adonay (always)
LORD= YHWH (always)
God= Elohim, El, Eloah, etc. (once as Adonay)
GOD= YHWH (always and only follows "Lord" [Adonay]).
Lord GOD= Adonay YHWH
LORD God= YHWH Elohim

What are the Aramaic words for "YHWH", "Adonai", and "Elohim" (or El, Eloah etc.)? How are these word translated in the POT and PNT? How would you translate "YHWH Elohim"and "Adonai YHWH" if your translating, not transliterating? In your translation have you followed the traditional spelling of "Lord" v. "LORD"?

Keith


Re: Aramaic rendering of "LORD God" - The Thadman - 12-06-2003

Keith Wrote:Paul,

In English there are two words concerning deity which we translate as "Lord". If the Hebrew word is "Adonay" we translate that word as "Lord". If the Hebrew word is "YHWH" (Jehovah) we translate that word as "LORD" unless it immediately follows "Adonay". In the Bible if we see the English word "Lord" we know that word means "Adonay" every single time. If we see the same word spelled "LORD" it always means "YHWH" (Jehovah), always. If we see the word "God" it comes from the Hebrew "Elohim" (or any of the derivatives of Elohim like El, Eloah, etc.). If we see "GOD" you will notice that this word only follows the word "Lord", in this case all capitals "GOD" also means "YHWH". Here is a flow sheet:

Lord= Adonay (always)
LORD= YHWH (always)
God= Elohim, El, Eloah, etc. (once as Adonay)
GOD= YHWH (always and only follows "Lord" [Adonay]).
Lord GOD= Adonay YHWH
LORD God= YHWH Elohim

What are the Aramaic words for "YHWH", "Adonai", and "Elohim" (or El, Eloah etc.)? How are these word translated in the POT and PNT? How would you translate "YHWH Elohim"and "Adonai YHWH" if your translating, not transliterating? In your translation have you followed the traditional spelling of "Lord" v. "LORD"?

Keith

I figure I"ll answer the first part of your question (Paul works hard enough around here). :-)

In Aramaic:

YHWH = MORYO / MARYA
Lord = Mor / Mar
Elohim = Aloho / Alaha

(The left side of the slash is in Western dialect, where the right is Eastern)

So, in other words, "YHWH Elohim" would be "MORYO Aloho" / "MARYA Alaha" and "Adonai YHWH" would be just "MORYO"/"MARYA" (as "MORYO" litterally means "Lord YHWH", MAR-YA), which is how it is rendered in the POT (as far as I remember).

As for the translation, I'll let Paul speak :-)

Shlomo,
-Steve-o


- Paul Younan - 12-06-2003

Shlama Akhay,

Thanks Steve-O for the quick response.

Akhi Keith, I simply follow the English convention of capitalizing LORD when I encounted MARYA in Aramaic. As Akhan Steve pointed out, the word MARYA is exactly the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew "Adonai YHWH."

"YHWH Elohim" in Aramaic is "MARYA Alaha" in Aramaic, which I simply translate as "LORD God."


. - drmlanc - 12-06-2003

""I simply follow the English convention of capitalizing LORD when I encounted MARYA in Aramaic.""

How about abandoning the English convention and writing "Lord YHWH" when you come to Maryah? That is the best rendering isn't it? And of course it would make it easier for people (like me at one stage...) reading the Peshitta translation to see that Jesus is God.


Re: . - Craig - 12-07-2003

drmlanc Wrote:""I simply follow the English convention of capitalizing LORD when I encounted MARYA in Aramaic.""

How about abandoning the English convention and writing "Lord YHWH" when you come to Maryah? That is the best rendering isn't it? And of course it would make it easier for people (like me at one stage...) reading the Peshitta translation to see that Jesus is God.

I would argue for just using a transliteration as you do with "Miltha" etc. I've heard complaints in some circles about another translation that goes with the rendering "YHWH" as if the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (Yod-Heh-W/Vaw/v-Heh) were actually in the Peshitta.

Shlama, Craig


. - drmlanc - 12-07-2003

Yeah good point. Either way, I think the English convention should be abandoned... That is not the Assyrian way <!-- sBig Grin --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/happy.gif" alt="Big Grin" title="Happy" /><!-- sBig Grin --> A transliteration would be good, with a full explanation of what the word means.


- Gentile - 01-05-2004

Of course in the language of the 'crossers over' [hebrew] YHVH doesn't mean 'Lord' at all or anything like it. Capitalizing it makes no difference. This reflects the English of the time of the translation, an age where the word 'Lord' was used a lot. But YHVH gives no connotation of 'Lordship' whatsover.


. - drmlanc - 01-05-2004

Yeah, otherwise our ancestors who say "MarYah" would be saying "Lord lord"...

What is YWHW mean specifically? A name meaning what exactly?


- Gentile - 01-05-2004

It is actually YHVH and it means 'He who exists'. Nothing to do with Lordship at all Dr!


. - drmlanc - 01-05-2004

Yeah I know it is nothing to do with Lordship (hence the "Lord lord" comment) this is why Craig is correct, a transliteration is an excellent option.

"It is actually YHVH and it means 'He who exists'"

Silly me, I'm too tired, time for bed <!-- sTongue --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/poketoungeb.gif" alt="Tongue" title="Poke Tounge" /><!-- sTongue -->