The goal of many is to get back as close as possible to the original Biblical texts. The DSS help us in a few ways. First, they can help confirm the accuracy of the text we already had (the Masoretic Text).

Remember that many of the DSS have spelling differences which do not affect translation, for many consonants were added to represent vowels. In other words, spelling differences are expected, differences which do not necessarily affect translation. A preliminary look at a copy of the book of Jonah revealed -- surprisingly -- only one consonant difference.

Here is an enlarged, typed out version of the same, highlighting the difference.

In this case, the DSS helps to show an amazing continuity of texts which are a thousand years apart!

In other cases, though, the Scrolls help to correct mistakes which have made it into the MT.

If one looks at Isaiah 21:8 in a number of Bible translations, the verse looks quite different. The key word is "lion" (or its lack).

Pre-DSS translations: King James Version (AD 1611): And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights. American Standard Version (AD 1901): And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights.

Post-DSS translations: Revised Standard Version: Then he who saw cried, "Upon a watchtower I stand continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. New American Standard Version: Then the lookout called, "O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower, And I am stationed every night at my guard post. New International Version: And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my Lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.

The Hebrew word for "lion" and "watchman/lookout" are spelled similarly. Evidently, somewhere in the MT transmission process a couple of letters got flipped, and "watchman/lookout" became "lion." The Isaiah Scroll from Cave 1 has the Hebrew word for "watchman/lookout." The word "watchman/lookout" makes much more sense than "lion" in the context of standing guard, and so modern translations choose "watchman/lookout" or a synonym. Here the DSS helps to correct the MT.

We cannot always be sure, though, which text to pick when differences occur. Each must be examined on a case by case basis, even elsewhere in the Isaiah Scroll from Cave 1.

Home