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Interesting NRSV-ESV Gender Usage

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The text is Psalm 127:3 –

Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.  (NRSV)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. (ESV)

The KJV also reads “children.”  I’m suspecting that the author of this Psalm was indeed talking about sons, because of the culture in which he wrote.  At the same time it’s interesting that NRSV switched to “sons” against most of the English versions, while the ESV stuck with “children.”

Perhaps not too terribly significant, but interesting.

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2 responses to “Interesting NRSV-ESV Gender Usage”

  1. Peter Kirk Avatar
    Peter Kirk

    I blogged about this verse, and the similar Psalm 128:3, in August, here. As I noted, it was RSV which changed to “sons”, copied by NIV and NRSV but rather surprisingly not by ESV (and less surprisingly not by TNIV). This led to an interesting exchange of comments, showing that there is a real exegetical and cultural issue here. It was particularly significant to me because Psalm 128 was the reading at my wedding last month, and my bride and I wanted a version which didn’t imply that we would welcome only sons, not daughters, as a blessing from God.

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    1. Henry Neufeld Avatar
      Henry Neufeld

      Thanks for your note and the link. I subscribe to your RSS in Google reader, so I must have been in too much of a hurry that day. And congratulations to you and your new bride and sons and/or daughters to come …

      Reply

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