Mansions

I've got a bone to pick with William Tyndale. Tyndale was one of the coolest guys in the history of the world. He's responsible for most of the poetic phrasing of the KJV, 'cause the KJV translators stole most of it from him. He was martyred for translating the Bible into English and publishing it. Like I said, really cool dude. But here's what he did to tick me off.

Tyndale had a real feel for the flow of language. Most of the stirring phrases of the KJV are Tyndale's renderings. When he got to John 14:2, though, Tyndale, decided to break with Wycliff and translate the Greek word "monai," which the Vulgate rendered "mansiones," as "mansions." Wycliff had used "dwellings," Geneva and the Bishops' Bible used "dwelling places," but the KJV translators stuck with Tyndale and used "mansions," which is why every time you turn around some prosperity nut is talking about how God has a mansion for him.

The Greek word "mone" meant simply resting place. It was used for apartments, monks quarters, inn lodgings, but NEVER to refer to a huge home. Come on, now, look at the Tyndale/KJV rendering: "In my Father's house are many mansions." How can a single house contain many huge houses?

Man, I feel a rant about "streets of gold" coming on.