Sporting - Glenn Conjurske
Sporting
We read in the common English Bible, that “Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife, and how saidst thou, She is my sister?” (Gen. 26:8-9).
The term “sporting” is a general one, and we need not inquire specifically what Isaac was doing with Rebekah. It suffices us to know that there are many things in looks, in words, in actions, and in general deportment which are likely to pass between lovers, for which brothers and sisters have neither occasion nor inclination. Abimelech saw something of this nature between Isaac and Rebekah, and rightly guessed that he would not have done so with his sister.
The word “sporting” is a little quaint in this connection, but this is no hardship. We expect quaint expressions in an ancient book, and to remove them is actually a loss. Something of the reverence due to age is inevitably sacrificed if we put the ancient Book in too modern a dress. And quaint or not, the meaning of “sporting” is so crystal clear in the context that not the dullest dolt could mistake it.
But does it aptly represent the original? I believe it does. The Hebrew word, which is used but rarely, means to laugh, to mock, or to play. It appears in Exodus 32:6, where “the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” Again in Judges 16:25, where Samson “made them sport.” The old English versions all give such a general sense to the word in our text. Wycliffe has “pleiyinge” (playing), and all versions from Tyndale to the Revised Version have “sporting.” The four Jewish versions which I have also read “sporting.”
Though a little quaint to modern ears, we suppose that this was neither inaccurate nor unintelligible. We could hardly expect, however, that the liberal spirit of modern times would let well enough alone. According to the RSV, Abimelech “saw Isaac fondling Rebekah.” According to the Berkeley Version, “he saw Isaac caressing his wife.” After these we are almost afraid to look at the NIV, but duty compels us, and there we also find Isaac caressing his wife. So also in the NASV, while according to the New King James Version, “there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife.”
Now I beg the reader to observe that none of these modern renderings are translations. They are, all of them, paraphrases. They are interpretations. Needless and useless interpretations too, for most of us over the age of ten were competent to interpret the verse ourselves.
Well, but what sort of interpretations are they? We suppose that “showing endearment” is a fairly accurate interpretation, assuming that we have the liberty to interpret this interpretation as designating romantic “endearment,” (for there are other kinds)—-but, after all, that was as clear with “sporting” as it is with “showing endearment.” “Showing endearment” is general enough to pass for an accurate interpretation, but we did not need an interpretation, and the expression itself is as insipid as it is fastidious—-and every bit as quaint and out of the ordinary as “sporting.” And “sporting” is much more accurate as a translation than “showing endearment.” The latter is not a translation at all, for it is an absolute certainty that the Hebrew word does not mean “showing endearment.”
As for “fondling” and “caressing,” among other faults, they share the fault common to most paraphrases—-namely, that they are too specific. It is possible that Isaac’s playing may have included fondling or caressing, but this is certainly not necessary, nor perhaps even likely. These events did not take place on a modern college campus. If memory serves me rightly, there were other ways in olden times to show romantic attachment than by fondling and caressing. Isaac may have been flirting as well as fondling—-and the former would as certainly have indicated that Rebekah was not his sister as the latter. If we wish a specific translation, “flirting” or “teasing” might lie within the realm of accuracy, while “fondling” and “caressing” certainly do not. They are no more translations of the Hebrew word than “kissing” is—-though Isaac may have done that also. But we need nothing more specific than “sporting.” The original is general, and may include various things. Common sense knows, whatever those things may have been, they were things which obviously indicated romantic attachment, and common sense inquires no further.
Glenn Conjurske