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23:07 Sep 10, 2007
Hebrew to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Religion / Christianity
Hebrew term or phrase: almah
Through research it seems as if The New King James Version of the bible mistranslates the word Almah to mean "virgin" instead of "young women". It seems as if the word bethulah ,instead, means "virgin". Can you confirm this?
John


Summary of answers provided
5young unmarried woman
judithyf
5young woman
boostrer


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
young woman


Explanation:
Yes, you are right. This is a rare case when KJV makes an intentional mistranslation. The subject is directly related to mediaeval Chr-Jewish polemics and has been widely discussed. See, e.g., a chapter on this word in the book by Isaac ben Abraham Troki (16th cent.) " Ḥizuḳ emunah". There is an English translation of the book. See also BDB and refs. there.

boostrer
Local time: 07:06
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
young unmarried woman


Explanation:
Quite correct. The translator may have felt justified in rendering young unmarried woman as virgin, since it suited his purposes.

judithyf
Local time: 14:06
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Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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