Mormon Times briefing

BYU professor will serve as editor for new edition of Hebrew Bible

PROVO — BYU professor of Hebrew Donald W. Parry has been appointed as an editor for a new edition of Biblia Hebraica Quinta, the Hebrew Old Testament.

Parry will work on the updated translation of Isaiah along with scholars of the United Bible Society and the German Bible Society. Biblia Hebraica Quinta will be used by 140 worldwide Bible organizations and translated into 140 different languages, including Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Finnish, Portuguese, Chinese, Italian and German.

"This will benefit the entire world community of believers in the Old Testament, which includes Christians and Jews," Parry said.

Parry is one of about two dozen editors to work on the fifth edition of the Hebrew Bible, and one of only a few from the United States. He will compare the Hebrew Bible, also known as the traditional Old Testament, with the Dead Sea Scrolls books of Isaiah. In addition, he will compare the two Hebrew texts with the Greek translation, the Septuaginta.

"In the book of Isaiah, there are many rare Hebrew words that we didn't understand before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls," Parry said. "But that discovery has clarified a great number of rare Hebrew words that translators could only guess at before. The end user will better understand Isaiah's writings as a result of this project."

Mormon Times mile run on July 18

The Mormon Times One Mile Run will be held July 18 at This Is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City.

The free event begins at 8 a.m. with the noncompetitive family run, followed by the boys and girls 14 and under run, 8:20 a.m.; the men and women age 15-39 run, 8:40 a.m.; the men and women age 40-plus run, 9 a.m.; the women's elite run, 9:20 a.m.; and the men's elite run, 9:40 a.m. The course begins at the corner of Main and Brigham streets, with the finishing line at the Brigham Young farmhouse.

Participants will receive free entrance into the park and will have the opportunity to meet Olympic athletes. Free on-site parking is also available and no registration is required.

For more information, call race director Bob Wood at 801-237-2173 or e-mail bwood@desnews.com.

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