Seldom Scene

The 'Seldom Scene' is one of my favorite bluegrass music artists. When I learned of their music, they have faded from the scene, as it were.

This post is on another seldom scene. Following this morning's worship service, I mentioned to our senior pastor about his reading of Revelation 5:12-13 from a modern English bible. The version he used has a questionable translation of these verses. (I forgot which version he used. It could have been the NIV. It's his customary practice to use several versions of translations to impart the message of the day.)

The question centered around the word "saying". The original Greek word for "saying" was lego. It was used in verses 12 and 13. It would be a stretch to translate this Greek word as "singing". At least, this was my opinion when I broached the subject to Pastor Steve.

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is known for its closest literal translation of the original New Testament Greek. It rendered Rev. 5:12-13 correctly as follows (bold emphasis mine):

12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

Whereas, in the New International Version (NIV), the same word, "saying", was translated incorrectly as "sang" and "singing", respectively, in verses 12 and 13. Its translation reads:

12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

We see the real Greek word "singing" in Rev. 5:9. The Greek word for singing in this verse was ado. It's derived from aeido. Both of these Greek words denoted sing, sang, or singing. The NASB and NIV had translated this verse correctly, however.

In secular music or even in hymnodies, ascribing angels the ability to sing is acceptable for a number of reasons. But scripturally to state that angels can sing creates two problems. First, it brings into question when is singing, singing, or saying, saying, in the Bible. Moreover, by distorting the original meaning of the word "singing", we are diluting if not refuting the significance in one of God's unique and solely gifts to His highest creation. Man.

Pastor Steve concurred with my concern. He said he will redeem himself in the second service.