1 Samuel 20:30
 
1 Samuel 20:30
(KJV) Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
(1611 KJV) Then Sauls anger was kindled against Ionathan, and hee said vnto him, Thou sonne of the peruerse rebellious woman, doe not I know that thou hast chosen the sonne of Iesse to thine owne confusion, and vnto the confusion of thy mothers nakednesse?
(1587 Geneva Bible) Then was Saul angrie with Ionathan, and sayde vnto him, Thou sonne of the wicked rebellious woman, doe not I know, that thou hast chosen the sonne of Ishai to thy confusion, and to the confusion and shame of thy mother?
(1568 Bishops Bible) Then was Saul angry with Ionathan, and sayd vnto him: Thou sonne of the wicked rebellious woman, do not I knowe that thou hast chosen the sonne of Isai vnto thyne owne rebuke, and vnto the rebuke and shame of thy mother?
 
The same verse in the Children’s Living Bible (1972)
 
(1 Samuel 20:30 CLB) Saul boiled with rage. “You son of a bitch!”* he yelled at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want this son of a nobody to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?
 
* Ken Taylor places a footnote at the bottom of the page:
 
Literally, “son of a perverse, rebellious woman.” This paraphrase is the modern equivalent.
 
Affected Teaching
This paraphrase of this verse is supposed to convey an easier understanding of the verse in question. However, what it tells children is that swearing is appropriate. This swearing phrase in this children’s Bible shows the contempt the author has for the word of God. First of all, he tries to mollify his reason for using that phrase by claiming that it is the modern equivalent for “son of a perverse, rebellious woman.” Bitch is the word in the English language for a female dog and the term has long been a derogatory street term. In the Hebrew, the word for dog is “kelev.” That word is not found in 1 Samuel 20:30. This means that Ken Taylor used a method called “dynamic equivalence” in which he tried to interpret the words and then instead of conveying the actual translation of those words into English, he instead conveyed, what he believed to be the idea or concept behind them. This is what the new translations do, they believe it is better to convey the concept or idea rather than the actual words of God from Hebrew and Greek making every new translation subject to the bias of the translators.
 
The problem with this is that God stated that he would preserve His words, not the ideas behind them. (Psa 12:6-7 KJV) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. {7} Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The interpretation of those words are given to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 2:27 KJV) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
 
Ken Taylor, while writing this paraphrase, had lost his voice which seems to have been the judgment God gives to these people who treat His word with contempt. Would you want to give your child a “bible” with swear words in it? I know I would not but the Publishers do not care about your spiritual growth nor do they care about your final destination, it is all bottom line, AKA profits for them. Once again the King James Bible proves its superiority in another aspect, it is safe for children.

Back