Someone made me aware the other day of a Hebrew interpretation of the number of the beast, 666, that figures in the Book of Revelation. Now, I should make it clear that I am not in favour of extrapolating anything from the numerical values of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Below I return to … More The Number of the Beast in Hebrew?
Grammar is boring for most people and it could be even for a Semitist, depending on how one approaches it. What if I say that Hebrew grammar can teach us something about God?! Check out Judges 1.1-2: After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the LORD, “Who shall go up first … More As Good As Done
Hebrew names are fascinating in the way they express attributes of God. Although not all Hebrew names contain reference to God, many do. There are two things worth noting concerning this category of names. The Hebrew for ‘God’ and ‘the LORD’, are the components used in proper names. The Hebrew for ‘God’ is ‘Elohim’, however … More Hebrew Names
I was recently told that there is not much of a future in my line of work in my country (Sweden). This was not the first time I hear this. Semitists in general are unasked for and Hebraists seem particularly unwanted. I am told that unless one ‘diversifies’ professionally with theology, then there is not … More Creating a ‘raison d’être’…
I’ve been wanting for some time to write something about the Bible’s connection between the heart and the mouth. Here are some relevant passages: We have seen this one in a previous post on psalm 141: 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do … More Heart and Mouth
The way the verb ‘to hear‘ functions in most modern languages is merely denoting the brain registering sound via the ears. This is not how we are to understand to hear when we read it in the Bible. Whereas translators in many instances take this into account for the obvious situations, it is helpful to … More Hearing is Obeying…in Hebrew
We have earlier looked at what Jesus says about this in another Gospel. Here is Matt 15:17-20: 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19For out of the heart … More Psalm 141
This verse is a Christological gold mine. This is how the TNIV translates it: I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. What is so Jesus-centred about that?, you may … More Psalm 138:2
My sister graciously gave me an awesome Bible recently. Don’t get me wrong, all Bibles are awesome, but for someone aspiring to read the Bible in the original languages, this one-volume A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible from Zondervan is something out of the ordinary. Not only is the OT in Hebrew (and Aramaic), and … More A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible
This post is a follow-up to another post on the same subject. Another instance of someone’s judgement being a metaphor for that person’s character occurs in the book of Judges 13:12. And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?” On the first … More Judging Character in Hebrew, Part2
While reading some in the book of Job, I came across the Hebrew expression for ‘sparks’. Eliphaz utters these famous lines (Job 5:7): but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. The literal wording for sparks in Hebrew is ‘sons of flame’. I find the expression exciting in the light of the … More Christians Sparkle in Hebrew…
When studying Greek one comes across lots of familiar words used in everyday English such as psychology, helicopter and hippopotamus… With Hebrew it is different. Alas! For anyone coming from a Bible reading background, there will however be some familiar words. Some of these may be: ‘Amen’, ‘Sabbath’, ‘Cherubim’, ‘Hosanna’ and ‘Hallelujah’. The meaning of some … More Worship = Evangelism in Hebrew
2 Kings 1.7: NIV: The king asked them, What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this? The Hebrew wording in this verse reveals some interesting details of how the language is connected to a deeper Gospel reality. The Hebrew literally has it: “What [was] the judgement of the … More Judging Character in Hebrew
Some cunning questions on Gen. 35: 1. Where did Rachel die? 2. What was she doing when she died? 3. What did she call her son? 4. What did his father re-name him? Answers: 1. Near Bethlehem 2. Gave birth 3. Son of my suffering (Benoni) 4. Son of my right hand (Benjamin) Near (or in) … More Rachel preaching Jesus
God delivering on his promise is literally letting his Word come. … More “When Your Word Comes”
The Glorious Gospel 