Letter 34: In reply to a request from Marcella for information concerning two phrases in Ps. cxxvii. (bread of sorrow, Psalm 126:2, and children of the shaken off, A.V.

Letter 34: To Marcella (384 AD, Rome) [A technical letter in response to Marcella's questions about two phrases in Psalm 127 (Psalm 126 in the Septuagint numbering). Jerome demonstrates his method of comparing different Greek and Hebrew versions of the Old Testament — the Septuagint, Aquila, Symmachus, Theodotion, and Origen's Fifth and Sixth Versions — to arrive at the true meaning. He also respectfully corrects an error by Hilary of Poitiers, noting that it wasn't the bishop's fault he didn't know Hebrew.] The Hebrew phrase 'bread of sorrow' is rendered by the Septuagint as 'bread of idols,' by Aquila as 'bread of troubles,' and by Symmachus as 'bread of misery.' Theodotion follows the Septuagint, as does Origen's Fifth Version. The Sixth Version gives 'bread of error.' The Septuagint rendering is supported by the fact that the same Hebrew word appears in Psalm 115:4, where it's translated as 'idols.' The meaning is either the troubles of this life, or the false doctrines of heresy. The second phrase Jerome treats at greater length. After showing that Hilary of Poitiers's interpretation [Hilary, c. 310-367, bishop of Poitiers and a major Latin theologian] — that the 'children of the shaken off' means the apostles, who were told to shake the dust from their feet [Matthew 10:14] — is untenable (it would require 'shakers off,' not 'shaken off'), Jerome returns to the Hebrew and declares that the true rendering, as given by Symmachus and Theodotion, is 'children of youth.' He notes that the Septuagint made the same mistake in Nehemiah 4:16. Finally, he corrects a slip by Hilary regarding Psalm 128:2, where a misreading of the Septuagint led the bishop to write 'the labors of your fruits' instead of 'the labors of your hands.' Jerome speaks throughout with high respect for Hilary, emphasizing that it wasn't the bishop's fault he couldn't read Hebrew.

Letter XXXIV. To Marcella. In reply to a request from Marcella for information concerning two phrases in Ps. cxxvii. (bread of sorrow, Psalm 126:2, and children of the shaken off, A.V. of the youth, Psalm 126:4). Jerome, after lamenting that Origen's notes on the psalm are no longer extant, gives the following explanations: The Hebrew phrase bread of sorrow is rendered by the LXX. bread of idols; by Aquila, bread of troubles; by Symmachus, bread of misery. Theodotion follows the LXX. So does Origen's Fifth Version. The Sixth renders bread of error. In support of the LXX. the word used here is in Ps. cxv. 4, translated idols. Either the troubles of life are meant or else the tenets of heresy. With the second phrase he deals at greater length. After showing that Hilary of Poitiers's view (viz. that the persons meant are the apostles, who were told to shake the dust off their feet, Matthew 10:14) is untenable and would require shakers off to be substituted for shaken off, Jerome reverts to the Hebrew as before and declares that the true rendering is that of Symmachus and Theodotion, viz. children of youth. He points out that the LXX. (by whom the Latin translators had been misled) fall into the same mistake at Neh. iv. 16. Finally he corrects a slip of Hilary as to Ps. cxxviii. 2, where, through a misunderstanding of the LXX., the latter had substituted the labors of your fruits for the labors of your hands. He speaks throughout with high respect of Hilary, and says that it was not the bishop's fault that he was ignorant of Hebrew. The date of the letter is probably A.D. 384.