Bible Dictionary
SLUICE
In the King James Version, “sluice” refers to a channel or structure for managing water, mentioned with ponds for fish. Later translations understand the difficult passage in Isaiah 19:10 differently, referring to workers for hire or those who make dams.
Definition
In the King James Version, “sluice” refers to a channel or structure associated with ponds for fish. Later translations understand the difficult passage differently, speaking of those who work for hire or make dams.
Biblical Usage
The term occurs in Isaiah’s description of Egypt and concerns the people whose work or structures are associated with the nation’s water management, according to the older translation.
Historical Background
The Hebrew word literally means hire, which accounts for the substantial difference between the King James Version and later translations.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>sloos (sekher, literally, "hire"): In Isa 19:10, the King James Version reads, "all that make sluices and ponds for fish." the Revised Version (British and American) entirely alters the translation of the whole verse. It reads, "And the pillars of Egypt shall be broken in pieces; all they that work for hire (margin "that make dams") shall be grieved in soul."</p>