Inquiry:
Psalm 58:8 reads, “As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.” Snails do NOT melt! Is therre a contradiction?
Response:
Let us begin by looking at various translations of this text:
- “…as a snail that melteth as it passeth awway…” (Darby)
- “…as the creeping snail that smears its track…” (Chaldee)
- “…like a slug melting away as it moves along…” (NiV)
- “…as a snail which melts away as it goes along…” (NASB)
- “…like a snail which melts away as it goes…” (NKJV)
- “…as a snail that melteth as he goeth on…” (YLT)
i will not defend the translation of the KJV in all points, neither will I defend any translation without exceptions. Regarding this text, i believe the KJV is perhaps a poor translation. Considering the translations above, we can understand the use of the word “melt” in the verse. The Hebrew word used (temac) can mean to dissolve, melt, smear, or liquify. As we consider snails (or slugs) as they go on their way, they leave a shining path behind by emitting a portion of slime.
In previous Answering the Atheist issues, we have discussed the Scriptures use of accommodative language. That is, language which speaks of a happening or event, not necessarily as it is, but rather as it appears (ie. the sun neither rises nor sets, yet we read of and understand sunrises and sunsets). The snail does not “melt” as it were, but it certainly leaves the appearance of melting. Also, the questioner should understanding that the Psalms are filled with poetic language, which is often abstract and figurative, not necessarily to be taken literally.
There is no contradiction.
This article is a response to Skeptic’s Annotated Bible, but original article is no longer listed
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