Iron Bed for a Giant
While a giant having a bed made of iron is not generally something that can led people into error, nevertheless it is foolish to say his bed was decorated with iron instead of made of iron. Again this is another example (of many translation mistakes) that alter the clear meaning of the scriptures. Bible readers should be aware of bible translation mistakes because in some cases this can affect the doctrines that people believe (which in turn can alter their behavior). Behavior is based upon beliefs and translation errors can affect beliefs so bible readers should be aware of what they are reading. This is similar to reading labels on food products because if a product it is called “natural” and “sugar-free” but contains other toxic ingredients (that are worse than sugar) then they should be aware of this and not consume something that is harmful to their human body. In the same way, reading altered scriptures can affect the beliefs and actions of those who are influenced by these things. Just being aware of which words are used is helpful to keep bible readers alert about of what is going on. Translating a “bed of iron” to a “bed decorated with iron” is something that is much different than what was originally intended by the bible. The bible is truth but bible readers must be aware of what humans can do in altering God’s word to fit their own preconceived human ideas.
Deuteronomy 3:11 (NIV2011)
11 (Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites. His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)
Iron Bed to Support Heavy Body Mass
The NIV2011 translation above misses the overall biblical principles that Og the king of Bashan was a giant and as such he had a large and heavy body mass. But the NIV2011 translators said that his bed was only decorated with iron instead of made with iron to support the great mass and size of a giant. Og the king of Bashan was a giant and was not only tall but he also had great muscle and bone mass and weighted a lot. Therefore, he constructed an iron bed because wood frame beds were not strong enough to hold his huge body mass. This is the reason the bed composition was listed in scripture showing that the size of the bed was huge to hold a big man and the bed was also made of iron for strength to bear the great mass of weight of this giant. Saying it was only decorated with iron is foolishness because why even mention trivial decorations unless they had some relevance such as proving that the bed was iron and huge in size and strong in iron construction to hold a giant (which Og was).
Deuteronomy 3:11 (NIV)
11 (Only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaites. His bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)
The 1984 version of the NIV had it right and only the later so-called more progressive edition of NIV2011 got it botched up saying it was only decorated with iron. If the bible says a man was a giant it means he had great body mass and weight and would need a bed frame of iron to support him!
1 Samuel 17:4-7 (HCSB)
4 Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall
5 and wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 pounds.
6 There was bronze armor on his shins, and a bronze sword was slung between his shoulders.
7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed 15 pounds. In addition, a shield-bearer was walking in front of him.
Goliath was a giant of great body mass and his armor was 125 pounds! The iron spear head was 15-pounds and the shaft of the spear was as big as a weaver’s beam! It would take a man of great body mass and strength wear armor this heavy and to throw such a heavy spear and use such large and heavy weapons!
It is no wonder that Og the giant king of Bashan had a bed-frame made with iron. The 1984 NIV got it correct that this man had huge body proportions that required a bed-frame made of iron to support his great weight!
See the link “7K-Bible” for more details.
See also the link “7K-Bible Translation Mistakes” for more details.