Psalm 33:9 | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 19, 1878

It is a great mistake to suppose that a word in the Scriptures is necessarily redundant, and to be rejected, because it is in italics. Some think that all such are additions made to the text by the translators. This is not always the case. They indicate that there is no exact equivalent for them in the original. But it very often happens that these words are necessary to give the idea of the original. Because of the difference of construction of different languages a word for word translation amounts to no translation at all. A correct translation is that which gives the precise idea of the words of one language in the words of another. To do this words must frequently be inserted for which no verbal equivalent is found in the first language. For this reason, many of the words in italics in the received version of the Bible as truly belong to the translation as other words in the text not in italics. To be assured of this the reader has only to open his Bible and read a chapter leaving out all words in italics. He will soon find he is not reading good English.

But there are many cases in which the words supplied are not necessary to give the meaning of the original, and sometimes the text is marred by the addition. Such a case is Ps. 33:9. It reads, “For he spake, and it was done.”

Here the word done appears to be quite innocent, and, at first view, to serve a good purpose in bringing out the language of the text. But in reality it conceals a great truth stated by the inspired writer, and robs the text of its original grandeur and majesty.

What is the subject of this Psalm? It is an exhortation to rejoice in Jehovah and to praise him for his wonderful works—for his creative power. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.” Verse 6. In verse 9 the words “he spake” are causative to “was done,” in the common version. All will admit this.

That is, that something was done as the effect of his speaking, which was not done before he spake. Now drop the word done, which is clearly an addition to the text, and the force of the expression is perceived in harmony with its context. “He spake, and it was.” That is, according to the construction before noticed, something was, or existed, after he spake, or as the result of his speaking, which was not before he spake. We think our reasoning is correct; from it there can be no dissent.

And if this be so this text is in close harmony with many other scriptures which teach the creative power of Jehovah. It is a direct contradiction of the theory which endeavors to maintain the “eternity of matter” outside of the will and action of the Supreme One. That theory assumes that God did not create the world over which he has a (nominal) jurisdiction. That those texts which speak of creation are to be received in an accommodated sense.

“Through faith,” says the apostle, “we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Heb. 11:3. And again, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.” Rom. 1:20. To deprive Jehovah of his power and action of creation, is to deprive him of his characteristic attribute—of “his eternal power and Godhead.”

We invite the calm consideration of the reader to the evidence of Psalm 33 as written by its inspired author. “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was.” There is a sublimity in this expression equal to that of the record in Gen. 1. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”

Psalm 33:9.