I was translating Ba’reshiyth chapter 26 and came across a verse that is a perfect example of how bad our translations are. Chapter 26 verse 13
And the man (‘ísh) increased becoming greater, mightier, more powerful, and abundant, even more affluent (gadowl – became more important and enabled, empowered and distinguished, majestic and honored, higher in magnitude and extent, and exceedingly wealthy) and he carefully walked following the path (halak halak) and increased becoming greater, mightier, more powerful, and abundant, even more affluent (gadowl – became more important and enabled, empowered and distinguished, majestic and honored, higher in magnitude and extent, and exceedingly wealthy) until (‘ad – up to, and as far as) he become exceedingly great, mighty, powerful, and abundant, and exceedingly affluent (me’od gadowl – became very important and enabled, empowered and distinguished, majestic and honored, higher in magnitude and extent, and exceedingly wealthy).
New International Version
The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.
New Living Translation
He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.
English Standard Version
and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.
New American Standard Bible
and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy;
GOD'S WORD Translation
He continued to be successful, becoming very rich.
King James Bible
And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
American King James Version
And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
American Standard Version
And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great.
Bible in Basic English
And his wealth became very great, increasing more and more;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the man was enriched, and he went on prospering and increasing, till he became exceeding great:
Darby Bible Translation
And the man became great, and he became continually greater, until he was very great.
English Revised Version
And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great:
Webster's Bible Translation
And the man became great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
World English Bible
The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great.
Every single translation ignores halak, even though it is there twice in the verse. Their translations have ‘Yitshaq doing nothing except getting rich and great, not even touching on what he did that caused that. Thought I would share.
