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unicorn - Printable Version

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unicorn - sean - 04-27-2011

Reading the king james in the morning, and found the word unicorn in numbers 23-22 and numbers 24-8. Surely this is a mistranslation and good evidence for aramaic primacy, as I then read from the lamsa bible which does not have this word in these chapters.


Re: unicorn - Aaron S - 04-27-2011

I believe that the translators had concern with this translation and a note expressing such is found in the margin notes of Isaiah 34:7, where it gives the following note on unicorn: Or, rhinocerots.
Studying further Isaiah 34:7:
Indeed this is the translation that is opted for in the Douay-Rheims translation of the Vulgate, but the Vulgate literally reads unicornes.
Finally, the Peshitta reads similarly to the Masorah here:
Masorah reads [font="Estrangelo (V1.1)"]Mym0r[/font], r'eimim.
Peshitta reads [font="Estrangelo (V1.1)"]0myr[/font], appx. r'eime.

CAL defines [font="Estrangelo (V1.1)"]Myr[/font] as buffalo.
Lamsa translates this one as unicorns.

For the sake of completeness:
The Septuagint reads adroi - translated by Sir Lancelot Brenton as 'mighty ones.' This reading correlates with the reading of Targum Jonathan, which translates it [font="Estrangelo (V1.1)"]Nyrbyg[/font].

Many modern translations opt to translate r'eimim as wild oxen.

For a parallel comparison of these versions, please check out verse 7 on this page in my interlinear project: Isaiah 34 < Cross-Source Interlinear


Re: unicorn - sean - 04-28-2011

thanks for the reply