Shiloh (biblical figure)

For other uses, see Shiloh.

Shiloh (šīlō Hebrew: שִׁיל֔וֹ‎‎ or šīlōh Hebrew: שילה‎‎) is a figure mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 49:10 as part of the benediction given by Jacob to his son Judah. Jacob states that "the sceptre will not depart from Judah... until Shiloh comes...".[1]

Versions and translations

The Latin Vulgate translates the word as "he ... that is to be sent",[2] which would be the equivalent of the Hebrew shaluach (Hebrew: שלוח‎‎, "messenger"), indicating a possible corruption of the text (on either side). The Peshitta has "the one to whom [it] belongs"[3] Similarly, the Septuagint translates the word to "the things stored up for him".[4][5]

Some English translations retain the word "Shiloh", either as a title ("until Shiloh come," King James Version) or as a place name ("as long as men come to Shiloh," JPS Tanakh). Other translations render the whole phrase in English, yielding "until he comes to whom it belongs" (Revised Standard Version), "until tribute comes to him" (English Standard Version) or "until He whose right it is comes" (Holman Christian Standard Bible).

Interpretation

The reference to sceptre and the Tribe of Judah has led many people to view this verse as a Messianic prophecy. This interpretation goes back at least as far as the Targum Onkelos in the first century AD.[6]

Among Christians, "Shiloh" is seen as a reference to Jesus. Shiloh is not mentioned in the New Testament,[7] although some have connected it to the Pool of Siloam, referred to in the story of the healing of the man born blind.[8] However, Genesis 49:10 became a major messianic text appealed to by the early Church Fathers.[7] The Christian messianic interpretation is found in the capitalisation of the pronoun "He" in the Holman Christian Standard Bible ("until He whose right it is comes").

Some Muslims interpret it as a prophecy of Muhammad.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex". Tanach.us. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  2. ↑ "Douay-Rheims translation". Latinvulgate.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  3. ↑ "The Peshitta translated by George Lamsa". Lamsabible.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  4. ↑ "NETS: Electronic Edition". Ccat.sas.upenn.edu. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  5. ↑ "Brentons translation". Ecmarsh.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  6. ↑ Pentiuc, Eugen J. (2006). Jesus the Messiah in the Hebrew Bible. Paulist Press. p. 108. ISBN 9780809143467.
  7. 1 2 Heine, Ronald E. (2007). Reading the Old Testament with the Ancient Church: Exploring the Formation of Early Christian Thought. Baker Academic. pp. 109–110. ISBN 9781441201539.
  8. ↑ Bruner, Frederick Dale (2012). The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Eerdmans. p. 575. ISBN 9780802866356.
  9. ↑ "Prophet Muhammad Is The "Shiloh"". Mohammad-pbuh.info. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
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