I love the King James Version of the Holy Bible! It's my primary "go-to" for scripture. But, in one instance- Job 29:17-KJV fails us mightily. Allow me to explain. From Job 29:12 through verse 17, Job described his effort in tikkun olam (Hebrew for "repairing the world") For Job, tikkun olam was a personal obligation. Job said he delivered the poor and fatherless, caused the widow to sing for joy, was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. When he didn't know the cause, he searched it out. And broke the jaws of the wicked and plucked the spoil from their teeth. In verses 18-20, Job expressed a closely held belief in metaphor & simile:
"Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the SAND."
Other** English translations use PHOENIX, not SAND, which makes infinitely more sense considering he began by stating he "shall die in his NEST." Here, Job is describing eternal life! He continues to expand on his immortality metaphor in verses 19 & 20:
"My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand."
Why obscure this bold statement of our hope for transformation? Ten chapters earlier, Job asserted his beliefs about transformation in his prophecy of our Redeemer as follows:
"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job 19:25-27 KJV
Caveat: study it out for yourself, do your own research, pray for guidance, and hold fast the dictates of your conscience. **English translations with "phoenix" instead of "sand" include New Revised Standard,1989 re-revised from 1952 RSV; Revised Standard Catholic Edition,1965; Jewish Publication Society,1917; Complete Jewish Bible,1998; New American Bible,2011; & Wycliffe 1382.
"Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the SAND."
Other** English translations use PHOENIX, not SAND, which makes infinitely more sense considering he began by stating he "shall die in his NEST." Here, Job is describing eternal life! He continues to expand on his immortality metaphor in verses 19 & 20:
"My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand."
Why obscure this bold statement of our hope for transformation? Ten chapters earlier, Job asserted his beliefs about transformation in his prophecy of our Redeemer as follows:
"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job 19:25-27 KJV
Caveat: study it out for yourself, do your own research, pray for guidance, and hold fast the dictates of your conscience. **English translations with "phoenix" instead of "sand" include New Revised Standard,1989 re-revised from 1952 RSV; Revised Standard Catholic Edition,1965; Jewish Publication Society,1917; Complete Jewish Bible,1998; New American Bible,2011; & Wycliffe 1382.
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