Thursday, 09 July 2009
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Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12 Update
I did some more research into the Lucifer thing in Isaiah 14:12.
Just as a refresher, here is the verse in the KJV, NASB, ESV, and Hebrew:
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! KJV
Isaiah 14:12 "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! NASB
Isaiah 14:12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! ESV
Isaiah 14:12 יב איך נפלת משמים הילל בן־שחר נגדעת לארץ חולש על־גוים׃
There are 32 occurrences of the word הילל in the Hebrew text, translated as “Lucifer” in the KJV, and as “Star of the morning” in the NASB and ESV. But it’s only in the singular nominative masculine in the Isaiah passage, the 31 other passages such as Zechariah 11:2 have it in the imperative or imperfect, and it is translated as “Howl,” or “Wail.”
The word occurs eleven times in Isaiah alone. The fourteenth chapter of Isaiah has it twice; once as the nominative “Lucifer” and once as the imperative “Wail,” or “Howl.”
In any of the chosen translations, Lucifer, Son of the Morning, or Day Star, Son of the Dawn, only occurs in the Isaiah 14:12 passage.
So then, why would translators choose to abandon the name “Lucifer” for the more literal readings? What purpose would that serve? I think that while I am in favor of accuracy, there is something to be said for the meaningful readings of some passages. Some of my favorites in this category are John 3:16, and Psalm 23. I think this is another place where the reading is enriched by retaining the KJV, without sacrificing meaning or literal translation.
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