On Wed, 10 Jun 1998, Kurt wrote:
If Exodus 20:13 in hebrew (sic) says murder, why do most english translations say kill?
Response:
Kurt,
I don't know about "most" English Translations, but here is what I found.
While the King James Version does say "Thou shalt not kill" in both Exodus 20:13 and Romans 13:9, the other three very popular translations that I use say "you shall not murder." Those are the New King James Version, the New American Standard Bible and the New International Version. Many scholars believe the NASB to be the most accurate translation. My NASB concordance has the word "murder" translated from the Hebrew word "ratsach." Ratsach was translated 24 times to the word murder and forms of murder (murdered, murderer, murders, murderers), 19 times to the word manslayer, and once each to the words kill, put to death, slain and slew.
As you may know, it is not easy to translate between languages. English has one word for "love," for instance, while Greek uses several, including agape, eros, philadelphia, philanthropia, and philarguria, to name a few. The motive of taking a human life may sometimes require the use of the proper word. "I killed my attacker in self-defense." Not, "I murdered my attacker in self-defense." "Abortion kills a baby" or "abortion murders a baby" are quite appropriate, given the innocence of that life, and the selfish reason for doing it.
In May of 1998, I watched a debate between Linda Theiss, Director of Ohio Right to Life, and Susanah Sagan, Director of National Abortion Rights Action League of Ohio, at Ohio University in Athens. A question was asked of the pro-choice advocate, Ms Sagan, "If you can call it a baby and you admit that you are killing it, then, is it murder?" Ms Sagan gave the position that NARAL uses that it is not murder in a legal sense, because it is legal to do it. However, she could not answer the question from a personal standpoint, and spent some ten minutes sidestepping around it.
The most common pro-life position is that abortion is murder because it is taking an innocent life. The person/child in the womb is being formed by God in His own image and likeness. This child is not guilty of personal sin until such time as they understand right from wrong (the "age of accountability.") The taking of that life is also done for selfish reasons, just like a robber, a rapist or a spouse hater.
I ask you this question: whether you use the term kill or murder, is abortion ever right? Would Jesus approve of the destruction of God's (the Father/Creator) creation?
Here is something you might pass along:
"I'm pro-life except in cases of..."
Would you consider abortion in the following 4 situations ?
1. There's a preacher and wife who are very, very, poor. They already have 14 kids. Now she finds out she's pregnant with 15th. They're living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty and the excessive world population, would you consider recommending she get an abortion? (Yes/ No)
2. The father is sick with syphillis, the mother has TB. They have four children. 1st is blind, 2nd is dead, 3rd is deaf, 4th has TB. She finds she's pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you consider recommending abortion? (Yes/No)
3. A white man raped a 13 year old black girl and she got pregnant. If you were her parents, would you consider recommending abortion? (Yes/ No)
4. A teenage girl is pregnant. She's not married. Her fiance is not the father of the baby, and he's very upset. Would you consider recommending abortion? (Yes/ No)
(Scroll down)
In the first case, you have just killed John Wesley. One of the great evangelists in the 19th century.
In the second case, you have killed Ludwig Von Beethoven.
In the third case, you have killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer.
If you said yes to the fourth case, you have just declared the murder of Jesus Christ.
--Author Unknown. We give credit whenever possible. If you know the author of the above piece, which we titled, "I'm pro-life except in cases of..., " please contact us. Thank you.
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