Journal: Michigan Theological Journal
Volume: MTJ 03:1 (Spring 1992)
Article: The Rosh People In History And Prophecy (Part One)
Author: Clyde E. Billington, Jr.

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MTJ 3:1 (Spring 1992) p. 54

The Rosh People In History And Prophecy (Part One)

Clyde E. Billington

A History Of The Translation Of The Hebrew Word Rosh As Found In Ezekiel 38–39

Jerome’s incorrect translation of Rosh as an adjective has been followed by many of today’s popular translations of the Bible. It is clear that this translation originated with the Jewish translator Aquila, was adopted by Jerome in the Vulgate and is based on a non-grammatical foundation laid in the writings of Josephus. Unforunately, the word Rosh is unquestionalbly used as a proper noun in Ezekiel 38–39 and not as an adjective.

Introduction

A number of English translations of the Bible incorrectly translate the Hebrew word “Rosh” [Ros̆] in Ezekiel 38:2–3 and Ezekiel 39:1 by the adjective “chief.” For example, the popular King James Version [KJV] of the Bible translates Ezekiel 38:2–3 as follows:

2. Son of man set your face against Gog and the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.
3. And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am against thee O Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

This mistranslation of Ros̆ is also repeated by the KJV in Ezekiel 39:1.

1. Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus saith the Lord God; behold, I am against thee O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

In all three of these verses, the KJV incorrectly translates the

MTJ 3:1 (Spring 1992) p. 55

word Ros̆ by the English adjective “chief”

This error in translation is also repeated in several other popular English translations of the Bible. Besides the KJV, the Revised Standard Version [RSV] and the New International Version [NIV]1 also mistranslate Ros̆ by the adjective “chief.”

Ros̆ as found in Ezekiel 38–39 is not an adjective, but a proper noun. It should thus be translated as the name of a third people [the Rosh] along with Meshech and Tubal. In other words, the portion of Ezekiel 38:2 in which Rosh appears should be t...

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