Today’s Word
Benjamin Lee Whorf
So Moses wrote down this song on the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:22 NASB Moses wrote – I want to look at something about the linguistic cultural reflection in Hebrew verb-gender combinations. I think it’s fascinating, but it’s technical, at least to begin with. So I’m a bit…
Food Poisoning
“A lion roars. Who does not fear? The Master, the LORD, speaks. Who cannot prophesy?” Amos 3:8 Robert Alter translation Prophesy – Does this two-line poem seem odd to you? What does the roar of a lion have to do with giving divine predictions? Before we can draw conclusions about Amos’ intention, we need to…
Walking Backwards
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me. Exodus 8:1 NASB Go – We all know that Hebrew is backwards. After all, it reads from right to left. The “proper” way is to read from left to right,…
The Day Before Pesach
In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. Leviticus 23:5 NASB At twilight – Pesach. The festival [of] the matzoth (Hebrew: חג המצות ḥag ha-matzôth. According to the biblical text, the festival starts at twilight tonight. “Evenings were quite important for sacrificial acts and ceremonial meals in ancient Israel….
Empirical Theology
“Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “Futility of futilities! All is futility.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NASB Futility – “Ecclesiastes is a strange and disquieting book. It gives voice to an experience not usually thought of as religious: the pain and frustration engendered by an unblinking gaze at life’s absurdities and injustices.”[1] The Preacher (Teacher) Qohelet writes…
Climate Change
“Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “Futility of futilities! All is futility.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NASB Futility – Vanity of vanities. You probably know this verse with the KJV rendering of the Hebrew hebel. “Futility” is much better. Qohelet isn’t decrying pride. He’s exasperated about life’s purposelessness. In the end, it all turns to rot. As…
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