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Looking for multiple meanings in Scripture

Are there lots of multiple meanings in Scripture?

Introduction

Many websites have language teachers who declare polysemy common in all languages. They say English words are 60% polysemonous. Is this really true? This study looks at some examples of words in different verses where different translations might occur. The Author cannot read other languages, so a study of multiple meanings in other languages is not possible, as the electronic Bible only references Hebrew, and not other language words.

However looking for multiple meanings in the KJV, one can study other languages to see if they follow suit. This would suggest that language has a multiple meaning as well.

How 'adown' is used..

We know from a study of 'adown' that the King James version translates this Hebrew word as 'Lord' half the time, and the other half is translated as 'master'. See studies of 'adown'.

What do the other languages do ?

(1a) German : Ro 14:4 to his own master 'kurios' he standeth or falleth.

Ro 14:4 Er steht oder f�llt seinem HERRN 'kurios'.

Martin Luther translates 'kurios' always as 'Herrn' or 'Lord'.

(1b) German : Joh 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master 'rabbi', eat.

Joh 4:31 Indes aber ermahnten ihn die J�nger und sprachen: Rabbi, i�! (LGB)

Martin Luther translates 'rabbi' always as 'Rabbi'...a German word spelled the same as the Greek.

(1c) German : Joh 8:4 They say unto him, Master 'didaskalos',

Joh 8:4 und sprachen zu ihm: Meister,

Martin Luther translates 'didaskalos' always as 'Meister'

(2a) French : Ro 14:4 to his own master 'kurios' he standeth or falleth.

Ro 14:4 S'il se tient debout, ou s'il tombe, cela regarde son ma�tre.

French has this word (I think) 'maitre' for 'kurios'..

(2b) French : Joh 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master 'rabbi', eat.

Joh 4:31 ..les disciples le pressaient de manger, disant: Rabbi, mange. (LSV)

French has spelled the Greek 'rabbi' in French as 'Rabbi' - perhaps no French word for this meaning?

(2c) French : Joh 8:4 They say unto him, Master 'didaskalos',

Joh 8:4 ils dirent � J�sus: Ma�tre,

French has used 'maitre' for 'didaskalos' , the same French word for 'kurios' in Romans 14:4. Yet in Matthew 22:44 French uses 'Seigneur' for the same Hebrew word 'adown' or Greek 'kurios'. Clearly the French are not consistent to the Hebrew, and neither is the King James version.

Pr 27:18 ...Et celui qui garde son ma�tre (adown) sera honor�. (LSV)

Mal 1:6 � Un fils honore son p�re, et un serviteur son ma�tre (adown).

Ps 8:9 (8:10) �ternel, notre Seigneur (adown)!

These examples prove enough, that the French is similar to the KJV, half the time French uses 'maitre' for 'adown' and half the time French uses 'Seigneur' for 'adown'. Clearly the KJV and the French show inconsistencies with the Hebrew word 'adown'. What is interesting is the German translation by Martin Luther does not. It is a true mechanical translation of the Hebrew, using 'Herr' always for 'adown'.

On the next web page, let's look at Scripture preservation..

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