| Offering Sacrifices to the He-Goat |
On page 154 in his book Bible History: Old Testament, Alfred Edersheimstates in a footnote that "he-goat" is erroneously rendered "devils" in Leviticus 17: 7in the Authorized (King James) Version. In this essay,forty-two versions of the Old Testament are examined. There are thirteen ways of translatingthe word in question. One version, the Amplified Bible, offersthree possibilities. The whole verse from thirteen versions is quoted, but only one term isexamined. Other versions which use the same term are listed with the version that is quoted.Following the passages are footnotes from five versions and quotes from four other referencebooks.
| Versions Compared |
| Leviticus17: 7 |
| EVD | They must not offer any more sacrifices to their 'goat idols'! They have chasedafter those other gods. In that way, they have acted like prostitutes. These rules will continueforever! Other Versions: GW, NCV, NIV. |
| HSH | And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto evil spirits, after whom they have goneastray. This is a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. OtherVersions: AAT, LB, NLT. |
| IB | And they shall not sacrifice their sacrifices any more to goats, after which they have gonewhoring. This is a never-ending statute to them throughout their generations. OtherVersions: YLR. |
| JBK | And they shall no more offer their sacrifices to the demons, after whom they have goneastray. This shall be a statute for ever to them throughout their generations. OtherVersions: AB, DHB, EBR, HBME, LBP, NEB, NKJ, REB, SNB. |
| KJV | And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gonea-whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. Other Versions: IV. |
| KTC | You have prostituted yourselves to the worship of false gods; to them you must offer victimsno longer. Such is the law they and their descendants must obey for all time; ... . Other Versions: [None.] |
| LXX | And they shall no longer offer their sacrifices unto the vain gods after which they go awhoring; it shall be a perpetual statute to you for your generations. Other Versions:[None.] |
| NBV | They shall no longer present their offerings to field spirits whom they are adulterouslycourting. Other Versions: AB. |
| NJPS | ...; and that they may offer their sacrifices no more to the goat-demons after whom theystray. This shall be to them a law for all time, throughout the ages. Other Versions:NAS, NRS, TEV. |
| NLV | So they will no longer give their gifts to the goat-like gods to whom they sell themselves.This will be a Law to them for all their people forever. Other Versions: AB. |
| NTJ | And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the satyrs, after whom they goastray. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. OtherVersions: MNT, NAB, NJB, RSV, SGAT, TJB. |
| NWT | So they should no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat-shaped demons with whichthey are having immoral intercourse. This will serve as a statute to time indefinite for YOU,throughout your generations. Other Versions: [None.] |
| SARV | And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the he-goats, after which they playthe harlot. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. Other Versions: HBRV, MRB, SSBE. |
| Notes |
Darby Holy Bible:
Lit. 'hairy,' hence 'a buck-goat.' Sacrifices were offered to imaginary beings thus designated.
Living Bible:
Literally, "hairy ones."
The Jerusalem Bible (Catholic):
"Goats," contemptuously used of the demons in animal form thought to live in deserts and ruins.
New Berkeley Version:
The whole Hebrew nation had been married to Jehovah [Deut. 4:13, 23] at Sinai, and again [Deut.29:1], a new generation on the plains of Moab.
New Living Translation:
Or goat idols.
Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon:
(1) hairy, rough; (2) a he-goat, hircus; as to the [idolatrous] worship of thehe-goat among the Hebrews (following the example of the Egyptians), see Leviticus 17:7; 2Chronicles 11:15; (3) wood demons, satyrs, resembling he-goats, inhabiting deserts.
Smith's Bible Dictionary:
Satyr: a sylvan deity or demigod of Greek mythology, represented as a monster, part man and partgoat. Isaiah 13:21; 34:14. The Hebrew word signifies "hairy" or "rough," and is frequentlyapplied to "he-goats." In the passages cited it probably refers to demons of woods and desertplaces. Comp. Leviticus 17:7; 2 Chronicles 11:15.
Devil (slanderer). The name describes Satan as slandering God to man and man to God.[SATAN; DEMON.]
Strong's Concordance:
Sā 'īr: as noun, a he-goat; by anal. a faun: devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough,satyr.
Vine's Expository Dictionary:
Leviticus 17:7: This passage demonstrates that the word [goat-demons] represents beings thatwere objects of pagan worship. Worship of these "demons" persisted long in the history ofIsrael, appearing under Jeroboam (929-909 B. C.), who "... ordained him priests for the highplaces, and for the devils, and for the calves he made" (Chronicles 11:15).
| Commentary |
According to the reference notes, any of the various terms used istheoretically correct. However, the range of meanings is wide. According to Edersheim, Gesenius,and Smith, the best term in the context is "he-goat." It would appear that the varioustranslators picked a term that they thought would fit. Does it make any difference which isright? Examine each rendition and see how each translation may or may not fit.