Expert: Scott Talbot - 4/18/2006

Question
Ezekial 28:13- in the King James version the last sentence of the verse says: "the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created". Many people believe that the words "tabrets" and "pipes" refer to musical instruments. In a more modern translation, it says "Of gold your pendants and jewels were made, on the day you were created". So, one translation renders those two words as musical instruments and another translation renders them as jewelry. Which is right and why the confusion?

Answer
Hi, Johann. It's nice to hear from you.

There are Hebrew terms in the ancient texts from which various versions of our English Bible have been translated which are antiquated, and have not been used in hundreds, even thousands, of years. There may be few clues as to their exact meaning, other than the context in which they are written.

The terms in Ezekiel 28:13 fall into this category. They are difficult words to interpret, and even the best language scholars cannot be absolutely certain as to their exact connotation. This is why the translators of the King James version of our English translation translated the terms one way, and other translators of more modern versions translated the terms in yet another way.

With only limited insight as to the reasons for each view, I would tend to lean towards the translation used in the later versions, since several hundred years of careful study and analysis have followed, leading to perhaps a better understanding of the original.

In the end, however, it is comforting to know that the lack of clarity does not hinder us from understanding the important ideas God wants to convey to us. Also, there are no major doctrines of Scripture which hinge on a clear understanding of these terms. Furthermore, such difficulties are extremely rare in the translation of Scripture.

I realize that this answer may still leave you a bit in the dark, but our curiosity will one day be resolved--if not during this lifetime, then in the next, at which time we can ask God personally.

Scott