Q: In Matthew 4:6-10, the devil correctly quotes Psalm 91:11-12, but Jesus misquotes Deuteronomy 6:13 by adding "only." Isnt this a problem?
A: No, because it isnt exactly true. A comparison of Psalm 91:11-12 with Matthew 4:6 will demonstrate that the devil /abbreviated/ the text, omitting the last part of Psalm 91:11 (By first-century standards, this was not an incorrect way of citing a reference. It was not unusual to cite only enough of a passage to convey the reference-location.)
When Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, He prefaced the quotation by saying, It is written, not It is written in Deuteronomy 6:13. If one looks at Deut. 6:14, it is obvious that the immediate context of 6:13 implies/requires that the worship of God mentioned in 6:13 is /exclusive/ worship. Jesus was not misquoting 6:13; He was condensing Deut. 6:13-14.
(Also, Matthew may have presented Jesus citation in the form best-known among Greek-speaking Jews in the first century: the form in the Septuagint translation. A handy chart at students.cua.edu/16kalves...TChart.htm shows that Brentons English translation of the LXX (a revised form of which is online at www.apostlesbible.com ) has the word only in Deuteronomy 6:13.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: No, because it isnt exactly true. A comparison of Psalm 91:11-12 with Matthew 4:6 will demonstrate that the devil /abbreviated/ the text, omitting the last part of Psalm 91:11 (By first-century standards, this was not an incorrect way of citing a reference. It was not unusual to cite only enough of a passage to convey the reference-location.)
When Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, He prefaced the quotation by saying, It is written, not It is written in Deuteronomy 6:13. If one looks at Deut. 6:14, it is obvious that the immediate context of 6:13 implies/requires that the worship of God mentioned in 6:13 is /exclusive/ worship. Jesus was not misquoting 6:13; He was condensing Deut. 6:13-14.
(Also, Matthew may have presented Jesus citation in the form best-known among Greek-speaking Jews in the first century: the form in the Septuagint translation. A handy chart at students.cua.edu/16kalves...TChart.htm shows that Brentons English translation of the LXX (a revised form of which is online at www.apostlesbible.com ) has the word only in Deuteronomy 6:13.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
