“arami oved avi”: the common misreading of the Vulgate, Deut. 26: 5

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE – translations

There have been at least five different translations or understandings of the three terse, poetic words אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי “arami oved avi”,  including that of the Vulgate.   

(The various translations will be discussed in a future blog and a new translation of the Hebrew offered as well.)

Jerome, the early Christian Church father and creator of the Latin Vulgate (done between 382 to 405 CE) translates the Hebrew text as :

   "Syrus persequebatur patrem meum qui descendit in Aegyptum..." 

This can mean

A.” A Syrian pursued my father who [then] descended to Egypt...”  

                                                OR  

        B. “A Syrian used to persecute my father who [then] descended to Egypt... “

 

 The  A. reading is based on the normal use of the verb persequor and could fit the seven days that Laban pursued Jacob before catching up to him (Genesis 31:23).

It is, in fact,  the standard reading used in English translations of the Vulgate. (See http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=5&c=26.)

But, I suggest, the new, B. reading of “persecuted” is the correct one and Jerome’s actual intent -- based on internal evidence from the Vulgate.

The verb persequor not only means to follow or pursue, but also to persecute in Ecclesiastical Latin as used in the Vulgate.  (See A Latin Dictionary founded on Andrew’s Edition of Freund’s Latin Dictionary,  Lewis and Short, Oxford Clarendon Press, 1969 impression of 1879 first edition), p. 1354, definition d.) 

As well, a persecution reading is more reflective of the verb tense chosen by Jerome.

The verb ending “atur” is past imperfect, indicating an event that was repetitive, or habitual.

Laban pursed Jacob only once, and in that passage in Genesis 31 (see below) the imperfect tense is never used though the verb persequor appears twice.

The only context for Jacob to be ‘repeatedly’ or ‘habitually’ hounded by Laban is during the 20 years he worked for him and was repeatedly cheated (summarized in Genesis 31: 5-9).

 

Pursue vs. Persecute

The verb persecutor appears a total of four times in this setting: Vulgate Genesis 31 and here in Deuteronomy 26.  Only ONCE is the verb put in the past imperfect – i.e., ‘repeated/habitual’ form – namely, in verse 5 above.  

All the others are in the simple Present or simple Past Perfect. 

·       Gen. 31:19 rubric:  “Persequitur eum Laban”  =  Laban pursues him.  (Historical Present)

·       Gen. 31:23     “Qui, assumptis fratribus sui, persecutus est eum ...” = who with his gathered kinsmen pursued him. (Past Perfect)

·       Deut. 26:5  - see above

·       Deut. 26:6 “Adflixeruntque nos Aegyptii et persecute sunt inponentes onera gravissima” = and the Egyptians afflicted us, and persecuted us, laying on us most grievous burdens.      (Past Perfect).

                   (See http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=5&c=26)

 

Yes, it is used twice to mean ‘pursue’ in the context of Laban’s chase in Genesis 31,    but in the context of Deut. 26 it seems to mean ‘persecute’ both times: the enslavement in Egypt -- which everyone acknowledges is the correct reading of        Deut. 26:6, and, I suggest, the abuse over 20 years beforehand in Aramea by Laban     in verse 5.

Put simply, from a grammatical perspective, the fact that only verse 5 uses the imperfect tense cannot be accidental or ignored. 

Readin B., in my view, and based on the Vulgate's verb choice, is the only possible meaning for Deut. 26: 5.

As such, it is also the only reading of the half-dozen interpretations to focus on Jacob’s 20 years with Laban and their ongoing, dysfunctional relationship.