Psalm42v11
Psalm 42:11
WHY the
different translated words found in Psalm 42:11?
The two words are: “Countenance” or
“Savior” and do we not give a different
meaning to each word.
Objective: To help us see the value in checking different Bible translations when studying scripture.
NOTE the two verses below and the word “countenance” Vs “Salvation” – Do we think they carry the same meaning?
The NASB 95 – Psalm 42:11
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. NASB95
The ESV – Psalm 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God. esv
IN the NASB95 by using the word “countenance” one thinks of: Expression, features, visage.
The word “countenance” used as a Noun or a Verb:
A Noun:
a person’s face or facial expression.
“his impenetrable
eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away”
synonymsface, features,
physiognomy, profile, facial expression, expression, look, appearance, aspect,
mien, mug, clock, mush, dial, phizog, phiz, boat race, coupon, bake, puss, pan,
visage, lineaments, frontface, features, physiognomy, profile, facial
expression, expression, look, appearance, aspect, mien, mug, clock, mush, dial,
phizog, phiz, boat race, coupon, bake, puss, pan, visage, lineaments, front
A Verb:
third person present:countenances, past tense:countenanced, past participle:countenanced, present participle:countenancing
admit as acceptable or possible.
“he was reluctant
to countenance the use of force”
synonymstolerate, permit, allow, admit of, approve (of), agree to, consent to, give one’s blessing to, take kindly to, be in favor of, favor, hold with, go along with, put up with, endure, brook, stomach, swallow, bear, thole, stand for, stick, hack, give the go ahead to, give the green light to, give the thumbs up to, give the okay to, approbatetolerate, permit, allow, admit of, approve (of), agree to, consent to, give one’s blessing to, take kindly to, be in favor of, favor, hold with, go along with, put up with, endure, brook, stomach, swallow, bear, thole, stand for, stick, hack, give the go ahead to, give the green light to, give the thumbs up to, give the okay to, approbate
In the ESV version the word is “salvation”. With this word one thinks of as: redemption, deliverance, escape or recovery.
It will be helpful to look at the various translations and identify the actual Hebrew word found in the text of Psalm 42:11 or that particular Hebrew word used in other scripture verses.
ESV:
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God. esv
Ps42v11esv
We find the Lemma Translation to be “ysua(h)” H3444 identified word.
Strong’s H3444 – deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare.[1]
The previous word “ani” (H589) means: me, mine, myself, we, × which, × who[2]
NASB:
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my (H589) countenance (H6440) and my God. NASB95
Ps42V11nasb
Note that my (ani)(H589) is the same Strong’s identified word in ESV as well. But the next word is (countenance, panne(h) H6440 –
H 589. אֲנִי ʾănîy, an-ee´; contr. from 595; I:—I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, × which, × who.[3]
H 6640 – פָּנִים pânîym, paw-neem´; plur. (but always as sing.) of an unused noun
[פָּנֶה pâneh, paw-neh´; from 6437]; the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (lit.) and fig.); also (with prep. pref.) as a prep. (before, etc.):—+ accept, a- (be-) fore (-time), against, anger, × as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront (-part), form (-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, × him (-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look [-eth] (-s), × me, + meet, × more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), × on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason, of, + regard, right forth, + serve, × shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, × thee, × them (-selves), through (+ -out), till, time (-s) past, (un-) to (-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with (-in, + -stand), × ye, × you.[4]
Note that in ESV strip (below) marked with red lines is the H6440 Word….
Ps42v11red
THUS, the words are all there in the Hebrew – but the translators have translated it differently.
Below are different translations with the NKJV matching the NASB – where most follow the ESV method of translation using “Savior” and “my God”.
11 Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
my Savior and my God. CSB
Ps42v11CSB
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. NKJV
Ps42v11NKJV
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God! NLT
Ps42v11NLT
[1] Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2, p. 53). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[2] Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2, p. 15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3] Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2, p. 15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[4] Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2, p. 95). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.