CREATION AND ACQUISITION - C: TRINITY SUNDAY

First Reading: Prov 8:22-31 (12 June 2022)

“The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded” (Prov 8:22-31).

This verse has been translated differently in many English bibles. The main clause of this verse is rendered “The Lord created me” by the New American Standard Bible and New English Translation, among many. It is also translated as “The Lord formed me” by the New Living Translation, “The Lord made me” by the Brenton Septuagint Translation, or “The Lord brought me” by the New International Version. The common concept expressed among these versions is that the Lord is the one who is directly responsible for the existence of mankind. It was he himself who put man into being by his willful intent, volition, and action.

However, a different denotation is introduced by other English bibles with the clause “The Lord possessed me” as presented in the New American Standard Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, New King James Bible, and Word English Bible, among many. Some versions bear the same sense in “The Lord bought/acquired me” that is seen in the American Standard Version and Christian Standard Bible. Here, God’s commercial acquisition of mankind is communicated, inferring that mankind can be likened to a commodity that God bought for a special price.

The dilemma on which is the more appropriate between the two referential concepts of creation and acquisition, respectively, is not answerable by a philological juxtaposition. Rather, the decision lies on determining which biblical source is valued more by the reader, i.e., the Greek text or the Hebrew Bible. On the one hand, the Septuagint (i.e., the Greek Old Testament) uses the Greek word ktizō, which is lexically defined as “to create, build, or found” or “to bring something into existence” (cf. BDAG). What is demonstrated here is that God is an all-powerful being who at one point decided to produce humankind. The creation story in Gen 1:26 can be recalled here when God says, “Let us make humankind n our image, according to our likeness.”

Succinctly, a reading along these lines suggests that God is the main author of human existence.

On the other hand, the Masoretic Text (i.e., the Hebrew Bible) features the Hebrew word qana, which literally means “to buy” or “to acquire” (cf. HALOT). When applied to human persons, it refers to the acquisition of servants or slaves as we see, for example, in Neh 5:8: “As far as we were able, we have bought back our own Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations.” It can also be applied to taking possession of a wife as manifested in Ruth 4:5: “The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite.”

In other words, this interpretation implies that mankind is someone valued dearly by God to a point that he purchased mankind for a price away from its condition of suffering or lowliness.

Meanwhile, I think that both readings can be combined as seen in the Amplified Bible, i.e., “The Lord created and possessed me”. It is necessary to bear always into mind that God created and ransomed us. The former is manifested in the creation story (normally associated with God the Father) while the latter in Jesus’ death on the cross. The Holy Spirit is the bond that unites both creation and acquisition together, especially when humankind responds according to this divine gift.

In today’s solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, may we be continuously blessed with the same passion toward the creation of a better world and the acquisition of right values.

- Rex Fortes, CM