This Article: (5 Pages)
- 1. Mystery of the extra words in the... NIV translation
- 2. The letter 'nun'
- 3. Y'shua (Joshua) son of Nun
- 4. The Faithful Servant
- 5. Having thought on absence
5) Having thought on absence
The missing letter in the acrostic of Psalm 145 is important. It indicates firstly the world is not perfect, but waiting completion of God's plan. Secondly the precise letter, nun, which is missing draws attention to the number fifty, and the idea of redemption. The world 'nun' is related to 'sprouting' and to the Messiah, son of David, and faithful-one. The missing letter summarises what is understood, but missing, the in the Psalm. What was the purpose of the wondrous acts? How is the kindness shown? And when will all creatures bless His Holy Name? Is it not when the Faithful One is no longer missing, and when the fulfilment of the fiftieth year of redemption comes?
So why do some modern English versions add a verse '13b' to fill for the missing 'nun'? No Hebrew text does. It seems to come from those who long ago did not think on it deeply, and who put in a verse to complete it. An extra verse turned up in the Septuagint. The Septuagint, was possibly begun as personal translation, and was never considered a rival to the copy held by the scribes, or even the meticulous Hebrew copies reserved to be read in the Synagogue.
The extra words of the modern translation such as the NIV and the Latin translations used to fill in for the missing 'nun' verse apparently don't match the Septuagint, or each other, as there is variation in the extra verse, as if from a variety of human sources, none inspired. This web site though not as clear as one might wish, does cover the debate. brandplucked.webs.com
Truly,
"Every word of God is pure...Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Proverbs 30:5-6
For more on how deep agreement under what appear to be 'discrepancies' can increase faith How old was Ahaziah?