Start a sentence with that

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Hi,As I read the Bible, I found the sentence like this:"That you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" What's the meaning of those sentences?Can I understand those as "(I wish) that you would bless~~~"? And can I start a sentence with "that" in real modern English?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

AnonymousHi,As I read the Bible, I found the sentence like this:"That you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" What's the meaning of those sentences?Can I understand those as "(I wish) that you would bless~~~"?

Hi Anon;

Many translations of the Bible use an elevated language. Even the King James version when it was first written used much older and outdated forms of the language. This kind of language gives the scripture the flavor of majesty: ancient, wise and holy.
This is a great site that gives many translations, so you can compare them, verse by verse.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20chronicles%204:10&version=ASV

Now to your question. These sentences are in a beseeching tone (ardent prayer). The tone is stronger than just "wishing," but it is the same idea.
It uses an inflection in English called the subjunctive. This form is not used now as much as it was years and years ago.

The Contemporary English version on BibleGateway reads like this:
One day he prayed to Israel's ***, "Please bless me and give me a lot of land. Be with me so I will be safe from harm." And *** did just what Jabez had asked.

Here is the King James version: Notice the older form of English (-est ending on the helping verb "would", "thou" and "Thine" instead of "You"):

Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And *** granted him that which he requested.

AnonymousAnd can I start a sentence with "that" in real modern English?

That is an interesting question. (perfectly modern)

That you are still reading the Bible is wonderful. (unusual word order, but still OK)
Oh, that this burden would be lifted from our hearts! (This is the pulpit speaking.)

*** bless,
A-

s

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much. Now I can understand. ^^ Thank you for your help.

Avangi · Answer

Anonymous "That you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!"

According to my translation, you left out a large part of the sentence.

Jabez called on the *** of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, etc."

Think of "Oh" as equal to "I pray."

Jabez called on ***, saying, "I pray that you would bless me and that you would keep me from harm."

The sentence doesn't start with "That."

And as A-

's points out, many sentences begin with a "that" clause: That I love you is beyond question.

- A.

Start a sentence with that

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