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Romans 12:20 heap or bury?
#1
I think I've found a major traditional mistranslation <!-- sSmile --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /><!-- sSmile --> <!-- sSmile --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /><!-- sSmile -->

By heaping coals of fire on your enemy's head, he will get more mad! Not less mad.

Now it seems that the verb 'qbr' (qabar) can mean both 'heap' or 'bury' (as in Matthew 8:22 it means 'bury').
So if we translate the verse, using 'bury' instead of 'heap', the Saying of Paul makes sense to me!

So; traditionally it is like this (Murdock)
Quote:And if thy adversary be hungry, feed him: and if he be thirsty, give him drink. For if thou doest these things to him, thou wilt heap coals of fire on his head

I would suggest this:
Quote:And if your adversary is hungry, feed him: and if he is thirsty, give him drink. For if you do these things to him, you will bury the coals of fire, [which are] over his head
See, if some one is considered 'enemy', the coals of fire symbolize a inextinguishable smoldering anger towards us. By burying (not heaping!) the coals, the problem is solved.

What about that?
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#2
Shlama,

It seems to me if you can't demonstrate that "bury the coal which is over his head" is an idiom used either in Paul's culture or Solomon's (who wrote it first, and in hebrew), and that it means what you just proposed, the phrase is still just as cryptic.

I don't mean to downplay the possible alternate translation, but I recommend looking at the original language of the Proverb and see if it can honestly be rendered as such.

Brian
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#3
Hi Bknight,

Good point!

Does not the use of the same verb, in Mattew 5 already mean 'bury' show how this could be used?
And yes, in Proverbs 6:27 it could mean 'bury' (if I would replace that English word take with bury).

"Can a man bury fire in his bossom, and his clothes not be burned?"
the KJV has 'take fire' but clearly, this is a paraphrase translation. According to strongs it means 'heap' or 'take'.

Well, does this not fit into the Peshitta? Do not heap coals on an angry man. Take those coals! <!-- sSmile --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/smile.gif" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /><!-- sSmile --> (bury them).

But maybe, my imagination plays a huge role. Though imagination is key to a lot of things.
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