Understanding the Language of the Bible

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Tsaphah, Apr 18, 2019.

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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Understanding ancient Greek and Hebrew requires the knowledge that both are different from the modern Greek and Hebrew languages. The meanings of certain words have been altered over time. Four things missing in the written ancient language are, dialect, accent, inflection, and punctuation.

    The last, punctuation, is how a particle of a word is built into that word used in a sentence. Without these missing aspects in ancient languages, it is difficult to exactly understand how the meaning effects the idea of what is written. One example is the word “now”. There are 15 different Greek words that can be translated as “now”. One example: de = now, so, also, then, and, but, etc. Another similar word is dh/ = now, then, verily, in truth, really, surely, certainly, forthwith, at once. Both of these words, in English, are pronounced slightly different. de = “day”, where as dh/ = “deh”. This is why believers in the trinity can argue about John 1:1. But, if that were the correct understanding, why write verse 2? “He was in the beginning with God.” ( Joh 1:2 NKJV ) “The same was in the beginning with God.” ( Joh 1:2 KJV ) “He was with God in the beginning.” ( Joh 1:2 NIV ) This verse would be unnecessary and redundant.

    In the written word, a person would have to know the setting and circumstance, in order to know how to pronounce these words, and which to use with the correct idea intended. As Mark Twain said; “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

    He also said: “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.”

    We ( U.S. Military ) used to have communication devices called Teletypes, to send and receive messages electronically between facilities. These machines would automatically print the sent and received messages. We also had to make sure that the machines were printing correctly. We typed, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” This contains all the letters of the English alphabet. Plus, numbers and punctuation marks were typed into the messages.

    How important was the accuracy of this information? Lives depended on it! We had a situation where an airplane became off-course because a wrong number was entered into the navigation system. A small number was entered, it was 300 miles off-course. Thankfully, the correct information was transmitted by radio to the Navigator. They were able to correct their flight path, and were saved.

    Let’s look at a sentence presented to someone. “Now, you are not going to like this.” Does the “now” mean “at that moment”? Or, could it mean that the intended person will not like what they hear. If the message was written, would it mean “when you read this”, you are not going to like it? Or, if the message was relayed, by messenger, to the person receiving it, heard or read it, at that time.

    Dialect:
    noun
    1. Linguistics . a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.
    2. a provincial, rural, or socially distinct variety of a language that differs from the standard language, especially when considered as substandard.
    3. a special variety of a language: The literary dialect is usually taken as the standard language.
    4. a language considered as one of a group that have a common ancestor: Persian, Latin, and English are Indo-European dialects.
    5. jargon or cant.

    Accent:
    noun
    1. prominence of a syllable in terms of differential loudness, or of pitch, or length, or of a combination of these.
    2. degree of prominence of a syllable within a word and sometimes of a word within a phrase: primary accent; secondary accent.
    3. a mark indicating stress (as (·, ·), or (ˈ, ˌ), or (′, ″)), vowel quality (as French grave `, acute ´, circumflex ^), form (as French la “the” versus là “there”), or pitch.
    4. any similar mark.

    Inflection:
    noun
    1. a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender
    2. the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice.

    Punctuation:
    noun
    1. the marks, such as period, comma, and parentheses, used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning.
    2. the practice or system of using certain conventional marks or characters in writing or printing in order to separate elements and make the meaning clear, as in ending a sentence or separating clauses.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2019
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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    In the koine Greek language there are six different words that can be transliterated into English or other languages, as “beginning”. They are:
    aion = beginning of time.
    anothen = from the beginning, beginning,
    arche = beginning, first, origin, the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader.
    archomai = to be the first to do (anything), to begin, chief, leader, ruler.
    archo = to be chief, to lead, to rule
    proenarchomai = to make a beginning before

    Which word is the right word to use? Is it lightning or lightning bug? It all depends on the subject.
    Look these words up by using the free; “The New Testament Greek Lexicon” or “Old Testament Hebrew at; http://classic.studylight.org/lex/

    Learn to use this valuable tool!
     
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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    In what order should these two scriptures be? It’s Mary’s use of “fragrant oil”.

    It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.” ( John 11:2 NKJV) Notice the use of past tense: anointed, wiped, was.

    Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” ( John 12:3 NKJV )

    It seems that the writing of the account of what Mary did should be in chapter 11:2 instead of 12:3, and 11:2 should be placed at 12:3. Does this seem confusing?

    If these are changed, it would read: “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” This would be on a different day and time: “It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.”

    AH-HA; The Codex does not have “that Mary”; just “And it was Mary that anointed the Lord.” That changes the whole scene here. Or, could it be, Mary anointed Jesus twice? Here is something to think about. At this time, Lazarus “had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” ( John 12:1-3 NKJV )

    Ah Yes! “Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.” ( John 12:1-2 NKJV ) Now we read verse 3: “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” This shows it was the second anointing of Jesus by Mary.
     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Recently, I have been reading a book titled “Talking to Strangers”, by Malcolm Gladwell.
    There is an important point brought out in trying to determine whether a person is lying or being truthful. There is a test called FACS which stands for Facial Action Coding System. In FACS, every one of forty-three distinctive muscle movements in the face is assigned a number, called an “action unit”. These FACS are a part of what we call “Body Language”.

    Long story-short, Facial expressions are coded. Almost all humans have specific muscles that are “give-aways”, when responding to events, or questions. These are coded for use in determining a lie or truth. It works better than the modern “lie detector test”. That's probably where the saying; “Look them in the face” comes from. Or when it is said, Face to Face.

    My point here is to say that these expressions are missing in the written word. Fortunately, we don’t need these features when reading God’s word, in the Bible. We only need to know these FACS when speaking to other humans. When a person says, “I’m not interested”! What are they really saying? We should know how to “read” people. Learn the FACS.:eek: :)
     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Having fun in these trying times. When I was young, I spent no time to study my English lessons in school. I thought it a waste of time. I barely passed my high school lessons. My teacher made it a point to tell me that I could do better; only if I applied myself to the lessons.

    Today ( these many years later ) I spend more time with my English lessons (self appointed). In my study of the Bible, I come across words that I’ve never heard before. Today's word is: obdurately. It has the meaning of: stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.

    ORIGIN late Middle English (originally in the sense [hardened in sin, impenitent] ): from Latin obduratus, past participle of obdurare, from ob- ‘in opposition’ + durare ‘harden’ (from durus ‘hard’ ).

    “As regards God’s relation to the unchristian world, its subject is the retribution which righteousness must inflict upon enemies remaining obdurately antagonistic to God. In so far then the thought is concentrated on one aspect of God’s character, to the incidental disregard of others.” ( Theology Of The Apocalypse, page 311, by Isbon T. Beckwith, Ph.D., D.D. 1922 )

    In the preface to this book, the author states: “For the understanding of the Revelation of John it is essential to put one’s self, as far as is possible, into the world of its author and of those to whom it was first addressed. Its meaning must be sought for in the light thrown upon it by the condition and circumstances of its readers, by the author’s inspired purpose,and by those current beliefs and traditions that not only influenced the fashion which his visions themselves took, but also and especially determined the form of this literary composition in which he has given a record of his visions.”

    Rather than getting too lengthy at this point, I suggest to those with “time on their hands”, download this book from: https://www.google.com/books/editio...pv=1&dq=Isbon+T.+Beckwith&printsec=frontcover

     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    I was reading one of my posts today, titled “Evil-Sin”, it referenced some information from a book first published in 1888 by Ellen G. White, titled “The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan”.
    It raised a question that had me thinking about a major question that states: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” ( Rev 12:9 NKJV )

    The Revelation shown to John was not sequential. Events that occur do not happen one after the other. So, when John records what is seen, is Satan thrown out of heaven when it was reveled? Or, some time later in Revelation? OR, had Satan been thrown out of heaven when he caused Eve to take and eat the fruit? Or, from the beginning of creation? That is the BIG question!!

    Where do we go in the Bible for the answer? Or, will the true answer be given to us later? One could say: Satan was thrown out in the beginning, before the creation of Adam, because the sentence uses past tense words; was, were, cast out. It appears as in the past.
    What think you, Mate?
     
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    thinking Member

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    Well mate..Haha...... I don’t think he was cast out after Adam and Eve business....because he assembled before Jehovah in the heavens and the Job issue came about.....but I do wonder if he was cast out after Jesus was resurrected and then ..WENT BACK to heaven ?????????

    Personally I absolutely believe he is here now..( I don’t care about dates and times...I’m over all of that) I look at the patterns and the world....and the scriptures ......unfortunately many who live in the western world ..think we are not under attack..a server enough attack to think he is here..they disregard the agony of the rest of the world....That’s because we are so cocky and Self assured...( I’m allowed to say that because I live in one of them )

    As Christians would we like to live in Russia ,China, India,Africa or the middle eastern countries..... are we so ignorant ( or full of it ) in the western worlds...to think he is not here....because we are not suffering to the degree of other countries..
    This is a topic that tends to frustrate me a bit...because not only has Satan the master of deception fooled many into believing he does not exist....he has also fooled even some Christians or Jehovah’s witnesses that he has not been cast down yet.....

    In the western world Satan has to work under a Democratic Government...we all know the Democracy is actually false.. but still...he does not have the freedom of a Communist governments or Rogue governments....hence his cloak of deception comes into play...he cannot round up Christians and put them in prison or re-education camps or attack the churches with machetes or guns and bombs....or execute believers.....he will bring them down under different guises because of the restrictions put on him....By the Governments of each land....

    He does not have to literally KILL us....that wording does not always mean physical death...it can also mean spiritual death....it is as good as the physical death to him....he is killing thousands of us In The western world

    It’s just that he has had to adapt HOW he attacks the western world....he has to use different weapons...but they are all aimed to achieve the same purpose...to KILL spiritually or physically any who profess obedience and faith to the Almighty God Jehovah.

    why is it an important issue....wouldn’t you want to know if you had a intruder in your house that was a child killer who loved to sacrifice children and keep them alive for as long as possible to hear their screams because it gave them pleasure..and who loved death sickness and torture and found ecstasy in lingering cruelness...
    Or was after you specifically.....

    Or Would your attitude be different if you thought he was in another country far away....Would your guard be dropped because of that .....

    Sorry Bro T..this isn’t directed at you...but a number of people who should know better preach he has not been cast out yet ....and that’s just what he wants them to believe....the evidence is all around us....but what a masterful con job he had done on many,,,
     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Well Sis, I have to only quote, or have them read Luke 4:5-7. “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.’” ( NKJV )

    So, who runs ALL of man’s governments of the world? I also believe that 666 is the number that represents all of man’s governments. As I have written before, it is 6 = imperfection 3 times. Satan is choosing rulers and running all of these governments. Democracy is a lie. It starts out with demo, without the n (demon). A so called government run by humans is imperfect, because humans are imperfect. Humans only want what pleases them. ALL POLITICIAN’S are DISHONEST. Politics never runs in a straight line. The address number of Trump Tower in New York City is “666 Broadway.” Hmmmm. I wonder how that happened?

    Oh yes, by the way; I'm not perfect either!!!! :eek: :rolleyes:


    Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. ( Ps 66:8-10 NKJV )
     
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    Yes totally agree...Satan runs all governments.....even our fake democracy....but he is coming up against genuine people that really believe we operate democratically..under this fake democracy....I guess that was as clear as mud hey ;)

    And WHAT!!!!!:eek:...how come your not perfect yet:p:p:p:p:D:D:D:D
     
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    While researching information about the written languages used to translate the bible languages of Greek and Hebrew; I wondered about the modern languages used. Here is an article titled “Dante’s Peek”. “How much did medieval Europeans understand about the origin and relation of their languages?https://www.etymonline.com/columns/post/dante's-peek
    Written words also lack the emphasis and tonal qualities of the spoken word.

    The translated words into another language may also lack the meaning. “I like cheerios because they are like little donuts. The word like has two different meanings in this sentence.

    To learn more about Dante Alighieri, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri
     
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    When I look upon Your heavens, the work of Your fingers: the moon and the stars which You have fixed; what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him? For You have made him lack a little from God; and have crowned him with glory and honor.” ( Ps 8:3-5 )

    I have been given a book from my aunt, who recently came to an end of earthly life, at age 95.
    From a book: “Why Pray” by Philip Yancey. This statement coincides with my thoughts on prayer.

    Did you know there are six different Greek words translated into English as; beseech, besought, pray, request, prayed. ( Deomai; pronounced = deh'-om-ahee ), ( Mt 9:38, Lk 8:28, Lk 10:2, Ac 4:31, Ro 1:10 KJV )

    The other words are: ( Erotao, pronounced = er-o-tah'-o ), ( ask, asked, asking, urging, imploring, question, request.

    ( euchomai, pronounced = yoo'-khom-ahee ), ( pray, wish, pray for )

    ( parakaleo, pronounced = par-ak-al-eh'-o ), ( to call to one's side, call for, summon, to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.

    ( proseuche, pronounced = pros-yoo-khay' ), ( prayer addressed to God, a place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer, a synagogue, a place in the open air where the Jews were wont to pray, outside the cities, where they had no synagogue. )

    ( proseuchomai, pronounced = pros-yoo'-khom-ahee ), ( to offer prayers, to pray )

     
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