Interesting that the NWT is the only translation that renders chnph ( ??? ) as "apostate". Even the WTBTS admits in the Insight book that it's root means hypocrite, but goes on to make the connection spefically to apostasy, and thought well to definitively translate it "apostate", butr does not show any logical reasoning for this rendering.
*** it-1 p. 1164 Hypocrite ***
Although words from the Hebrew root cha·neph′ are rendered “hypocrite” or “hypocrisy” in some translations, such as the King James Version, Douay, and Leeser, other translators have variously rendered these words “profane” (Yg), “impious” (Ro), “godless” (RS), and “apostate” (NW). According to A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament by Brown, Driver, and Briggs (1980, pp. 337, 338), cha·neph′, when used as an adjective, may be defined as “profane, irreligious . . . , godless”; or, as a verb, “be polluted, profane . . . , inclining away from right.” In the Scriptures cha·neph′ appears in parallel with those forgetting God (Job 8:13), the wicked (Job 20:5), evildoers (Isa 9:17), and it is used in contrast with the upright and innocent ones.—Job 17:8; see APOSTASY.
The source material referenced by the Insight book says the following:
T F)3n adj . profane, irreligious (Syr. \A±L
profane, hence oft. heathen, apostate; Ar. 1 » ■i ^-
inclining to a right state, esp. i/te <rwe religion,
a Muslim)— abs. 'n Jb8 13 + 10 t.; pi. t^Bjn Is
33 14 ; "^C 1 Jb 36 13 ^- 35 16 ; — profane, godless:
of persons, T\ D"JK Jb 34 30 ; 'n ^ Is io 6 ; as
subst. godless man Is 9 16 (|| JPD) Jb 8 13 13 16 17 8
20 5 27 s Prn 9 ; coll.'n nnj) Jb 15 34 ; pi. Is 33";
a^wn Jb 36 13 ; Jivo ^yb ,B ?D 3 V 35 16 «« ;^°-
_/ime men, mockers for cake (i.e. table-jesters;
on cstr. v. Ges sl30S ), but txt. dub. (v. Che crltn -
Bae).
Then a few other Lexicons give the following meanings . . .
- hypocritical, godless, profane, hypocrite, irreligious
Lexicons - Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon - King James Version Hebrew Lexicon - Chaneph
- hypocritical, godless, profane, hypocrite, irreligious
Lexicons - Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon - New American Standard Hebrew Lexicon - Chaneph
- to be profaned, be defiled, be polluted, be corrupt (Qal) to be polluted to be profane, be godless (Hiphil) to pollute to make profane, make godless, cause to be defiled
Lexicons - Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon - King James Version Hebrew Lexicon - Chaneph
- to be profaned, be defiled, be polluted, be corrupt (Qal) to be polluted to be profane, be godless (Hiphil) to pollute to make profane, make godless, cause to be defiled
Lexicons - Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon - New American Standard Hebrew Lexicon - Chaneph
Babylon 8 translating software gives the following definitions:
to toady, fawn; be sycophant, obsequious to flatter, fawn, toady; pollute, defile
Should I be surprised that the WTBTS has "polluted" or "defiled" the original launguage text of the Scriptures?
