the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, saying, “This man is inciting the people to worship God contrary to the law.” Acts18:12b-13 NASB Contrary to the law – How do you read this verse? These are orthodox Jews claiming that Paul’s message encourages men to worship a false God. Were…
One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who rescues you from the net of the trapper and from the deadly plague. Psalm 91:1-3 NASB Plague – The Black Plague killed between…
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven. Genesis 2:4 NASB The account of – The King James renders this verse as “these are the generations of.” This represents the Hebrew tôlēdôt, but it misdirects us in English. The English word…
For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14 NASB Innermost parts – We assume, correctly, that the Hebrew kilyotāy’ in this verse isn’t about kidneys (its literal translation). …
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Exodus 24:7 ESV Be Obedient – The translation “be obedient” makes sense. It’s pretty much repeated in the other English translations. But it…
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 NASB Forgive – This is enough for today: A great Hasidic rabbi, Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, once prayed this way: “Lord of the universe, I want to propose a deal. We have many sins. You have much forgiveness. Let us exchange our sins for…
yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, inflicting the punishment of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:7b NASB Inflicting – I like the NASB. I use it as my standard English Bible text. But in this verse, the translation couldn’t be worse! There is simply no…
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 NASB Alone – Since the publication of Guardian Angel, my work on this chapter in Genesis has been either jubilantly welcomed or vehemently rejected. Those who welcome the exegesis are typically people…
Do not abandon me, Lord; My God, do not be far from me! Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation! Psalm 38:21-22 NASB Salvation – What does tĕšûʿâ mean? It’s commonly translated “salvation,” but the ancient Hebrew idea isn’t loaded with theological content in the way we use the English word today. In our world, salvation tows in…
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called [a]Gilgal to this day. Joshua 5:9 NASB Shame – Recently we investigated the two Hebrew words, ḥerpâ (reproach) and gālal (to roll away). We discovered that the request to circumcise the male population a…
