STRAINING MOSQUITOES IS A POPULAR PASTIME FOR PEOPLE, AS IS DOING THE DAILY CROSSWORD. When It Comes To The Real Truth Of Life, This Is Avoided If Possible. There is nothing like a distraction to put people off balance or take their eye off the ball.

Why are some bibles translating Genesis 22:18 בְזַרְעֲךָ as singular "in thy seed" and others as plural "descendants"?

Refer Genesis 22:18 ISV, KJ2000, CJB, Net Bible and NLT used “descendants” while other bibles including JPS Tanakh, rendered singular “offspring” or “seed”. In Genesis 22:17, zara was rendered plural/singular, independent of v 18. In NKJV referenced Paul’s Gal 3:16 to this in singular form.

Paul’s Gal 3:16 to this in singular form.

Harry Riches Answer requested by James Chrisholm

The direct answer to your question is some translators prefer to use the word “descendants” rather than the word “seed” because they are trying to capture what they believe is meant by the term when paraphrasing or when expressing a dynamic equivalent—depending upon the charter for their translation.

We read in the book of Romans that all who believe the promise are descendants of Abraham. Therefore the seed of Abraham brought forth an abundance of descendants.

• The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.…That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants—not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 4:13–17)

People who read the Old Testament, after having read the New Testament and comprehend its message, ought to have no difficulty in understanding that the descendants of Abraham are the result of either the flesh or an expression of faith.

Those who are of the flesh are not necessarily descendants of Abraham, even if they believe they were chosen before they were born (unconditional election).

Only those who possess faith are descendants of Abraham. This faith is not in Abraham but in the seed of promise, which was Isaac according to the flesh; however, the Apostle Paul has interpreted this to be a reference to Lord Jesus Christ.

• Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for “He who through faith is righteous shall live”; but the law does not rest on faith, for “He who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree”— 14 that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. To give a human example, brethren: no one annuls even a man’s will, or adds to it, once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many; but, referring to one, “And to your offspring,” which is Christ. (Galatians 3:11–16)

The law being spoken of here is not the Ten Commandments per se; rather, the many other rules and regulations that form the body of knowledge that make up The Law.

Besides the Ten Commandments, this body of knowledge includes the statutes and ceremonial laws that bore witness to Lord Jesus Christ but were of no avail of themselves in respect to eternal salvation. Such things as blood sacrifices, meal offerings, Sabbaths, sacrificing first born animals and redemption of the first born. The reality of these things is being revealed in the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ and His body, the called-out ones.

The Apostle Paul identified the truth of what is taught in the Law concerning the present epoch in his writings, as a chosen instrument of God.

• To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:8-10)

Understanding the truths contained in the Bible is not something a person can do by merely reading it as one would read a novel or by studying a text book about how something works.

The Bible speaks of God’s purpose in Lord Jesus Christ, and this requires us to have a relationship with Him. If we possess this, as we grow individually in our relationship with the Eternal One, we begin to learn the truths contained within the Scriptures—that is, if we allow Him to show us.

In a way, understanding the Bible is like a person who can read a plan but has no idea of practically building what the plans describe can be built. The only way the building can be built is to do what the plans say; however, unless one has the tools and the materials and wherewithal, everything is in vain.

Merely understanding that the Apostle Paul said that the word “seed” meaning “offspring” is singular in the Hebrew is meaningless, unless one expresses faith and becomes one of the descendants of Abraham oneself. Therefore those who understand this, the fact that word “descendants” is used instead of the singular “descendant” or “seed” is in certain respects, no real problem. Still, if one is seeking the truth, inaccuracies are anathema.

The Commandment Of God Is Very Broad; Most People Seek Not To Understand It