How far does this go? If I’m not mistaken, Hebrew is a gendered language, and all genders will be shaved off on the trip into English save for personal pronouns (he/she/him/her/his/her/hers). Should translators add a [m] [f] tag to nouns so English speakers can see this?
Modern languages that are gendered will often have different genders for common nouns (like “table” or “house”) than Hebrew. Should translators preserve Hebrew’s gendering in a translation?
Walking up the stairs, I noticed a bunch of beer cans, along with an empty paper bag, spread around the stoop just outside the door. Picking up the beer cans, I dropped them in the paper bag and put it in the church trash can just inside the doorway
Well, Israel is often said to be a wife or compared to a wife (usually as an unfaithful wife!) in the OT prophets. For an extended allegory based on this read Ezekiel 16! So, in this regard, I’d guess the ordinary Israelite would “resonate” with inhabitants of other nations referring to their nation in feminine terms (mother most likely).
Some cultures have construed their nation as a father (“the fatherland”). It would be an interesting sociological study to ask “Are nations who do have social/economic/political features that are consist with other nations who do so, and are these features consistently different from nations who construe their home nations as mothers?”
My opinion is this: the consistency of construing cities as feminine which we find in Scripture over a period of a couple of millennia and across Hebrew (in the OT) and Greco-Roman (in the NT) cultures should shape the way we understand the nature and purpose of cities. The Holy Spirit never “corrects” this idea, but rather employs it throughout Scripture. This is a kind of affirmation of an insight or idea that I am loathe to ignore, much less to criticize.
But, if I take this idea seriously, I must ask what is the purpose and nature of femininity itself as our Heavenly Father has created it? There is much in Scripture to illuminate the nature and purpose of femininity, of womanhood. And, so, if we rightly discern God’s design for woman, then we have parameters with which to understand the nature and purpose of cities.
Yes, Fr. Bill. Calling a town “daughter” and cities “mother” has a semantic meaning component that should not be gagged by those who view it sexist and extraneous and confusing. Because the translators have not given a thought to motherhood and femininity does not mean they should rob those devoted to God’s Words of this chance to think about motherhood and femininity. Again, “daughter” is God’s Word, so use it already.
Concerning grammatical gender markings, when we start returning words like “fathers,” “brothers,” “sons,” and “daughters” to Scripture, we can wait and watch whether the translators start changing the suffixes of words to keep the grammatical gender markings. And if they do, maybe it’s time to talk about that, you know? Love,
Now, if only they will crack down on videos promoting transsexuals’ self-mutilation…
Click through to download a copy of our new Chinese translation of “Daddy Tried,” our book on fatherhood. God’s Fatherhood, and ours. If you haven’t read it, learn Chinese and get it free, here:
Two days ago PCA pastor told me PCA pastors tell their sheep not to read us b/c we’re stupid. Patiently explained to him hypotenoose never rises above oranguting except when perambulayter has been throughly permeated.
Cleared things up for him
Of all the criticisms, that’s the one they picked? Ok.
Reminds me of how Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau responded after Nixon had called him something obnoxious: “I have been called worse things by better people”.
I’ve heard divisive. I’ve heard unbalanced or unhinged. I’ve heard uncharitable. I’ve heared “discernment bloggers.” Not dumb.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is a monster. Love,
Went and had dumplings at Din Tai Fung here in Taipei couple weeks ago which was hook getting me to read fascinating article abt getting lost in parking lots, LA’s cities, gay nightlife, Apple stores, elitist vs democratic malls… Din Tai Fung Is Causing Drama in Los Angeles - Eater
Very worst abuse by church leaders is refusal to warn sheep “day and night w/tears” (Acts 20). Many sheep hate warnings, though, so they call faithful shepherds “abusive.” Thus, dear shepherd, you must never forget you will answer to God for your care of His sheep. #goodshepherd
What we can learn from post-Soviet Russia society.
Scott Tibbs again, and helpful: “Announcing your pronouns is an attempt to control others. If free speech is going to survive…”
Keep telling young pastors that taking risks and failure are their privilege. Youth heals quickly. Old not so much. Wisdom of elderly is accumulation of mistakes and failures. Get them under your belt while you’re young SpaceX rocket explosion illustrates Elon Musk's 'successful failure' formula | Reuters
@tbbayly
Or as I learnt from one senior pastor, “There are bold pastors and old pastors … but not many old, bold pastors”.
Note the Party of Bloodlust begins to say “illegitimate court system” when judges take steps toward defense of babies. I know it’s hard to admit our relatives and neighbors are motivated by bloodlust, but see what you see. Democrats Struggle to Face the Illegitimate Court System - The American Prospect
Sit down w/your children this afternoon and read Esther to them. Let them interrupt to ask the really hard questions. Go ahead and fumble in your answers. Later, let them howl with glee. God and His providence! #Christianfatherhood