Hebrewisms Of The Bible: Part 1

Hebrewisms of the Bible: Part 1:

If we can understand Hebrew and Greek Idioms, we can gain a clearer insight to the Jewish thinking, customs and traditions.  There was a vast chasm to cross from the Hebrew to the Greek languages.  With the power of the Holy Spirit, the bridge was crossed.  

The Father drew to His Son, Jesus, 12 men who were for the most part uneducated and of a poorer class in society; these became the instruments of the most amazing revolution in the religion of mankind.

The Holy Spirit chose to deliver the important truths of God in the common street language of a few Galileans.

He did so that it might appear without any question, or doubt, that the fullness of, and the truths of the gospel message were from God, and God alone. 

Psalms 19:7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

A large portion of the construction and the phrases of the N.T. are that of the Greek which was spoken in Macedonia.  Because of this, the language of the N.T. will obtain illustrations from the classic Greek writers’, and from comparing carefully the Septuagint version of the O.T. 

There appears in the N.T., words that express both doctrines and practices which were unknown to the then known Greek language.  Many words in Scripture held a widely different interpretation from those found in ancient Greek writings.

The N.T. contains examples of all the dialects of the Greek language.

Aeolic Greek:  This was a group of dialects of ancient Greek, spoken by the Aeolians.

Boeotic Greek:  This is an Aeolic dialect of ancient Greek, used by the Boeotians.

Doric Greek:  This was a dialect of ancient Greek spoken in southern and eastern Peloponnesus, the Isthmus of Corinth and some of the southern most Aegean islands. The Islands being Crete, Rhodes, the Southwest coast of Asia Minor and several colonial areas, especially Sicily and Southern Italy.  It was also used in Greek literature, especially by the Greek poets Pindar, and Theocritus.

 Ionic Greek:  This was a dialect of ancient Greek used in Ionia.

 Attic, or Athenian Greek:  This was a dialect of ancient Greek that was originally used in Attica and became the literary language of the entire Greek speaking world.

 Not only do we have to consider the Hebrew idioms being translated into the various Greek dialects, but we must also consider the Rabbinical, Syriac, Persian, Latin, and other idioms and words found there. 

Rabbinisms; during, and subsequent to the Babylonian captivity, the Jewish language sustained considerable changes.  New words, new sentences and new expressions were introduced, especially terms of science. 

Moses and Isaiah would have had little if any knowledge of these things. This new Hebrew language is called Talmukical, or Rabbinical from the writings in which it is used.  Although these writings are of a much later date than the N.T., yet from the coincidence of expressions, it is not improbable that even in the time of Christ, this was the language of the Rabbis.

Syriac is a Syrian language.  Chaldee refers to Babylon, the people and the language.  Both languages and their modes of expressions, and their dialect were used by the Jews in the time of Christ. 

These branched into two dialects, differing in pronunciation rather than in words.  The east Aramaean, or Chaldee was spoken at Jerusalem and Judaea.   It was used by the Lord in His familiar discourses and conversations with the Jews.  The West Aramaean was spoken in Galilee of the Gentiles. 

Because of this it was natural that numerous Chaldee and Syriac words, phrases, and terms of expressions would be intermixed in the Greek N.T.  These words and phrases are not to be found in the Septuagint and the existence of these Chaldaisms and Syriasms is strong intrinsic proof and evidence of the genuineness and authenticity of the N.T. 

If the N.T. were free of these idioms, we might naturally conclude that it was not written either by men of Galilee, or Judea, and therefore not genuine.  Peter’s speech betrayed him to be a Galilean when Jesus stood before the Jewish tribunal. 

Certainly the written language of Peter who was born, educated, worked and lived in Galilee, would leave marks on his epistles concerning his native tongue, therefore betraying or confirming him to be a Galilean.

Following are some of the principal  Aramaean of Chaldee, and Syriac words and phrases occurring in the N.T. 

1.  Romans 8:15,  “Abba” means, Father. 
2.  Aceldama in  Acts 1:19,  means,  “The field of blood.” 
3.  Armageddon in Revelation 16:16,   means, “The mountain of Megiddo.” 
4.  Bethesda in John 5:2,   means, “The house of mercy.”
5.  Cephas in John 1:42,  means, “A rock or stone.”
6.  Corban in  Mark 7:11,  means, “A gift, or offering dedicated to God.”
7.  Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabacthani, in Matthew 27:46,  means,  “My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me?”
8.  Ephphatha in Mark 7:34,  means, “Be thou opened.”
9.  Mammon in Matthew 6:24,  means, “Riches.”
10.  Maran atha in 1 Corinthians 16:22,  means,  “The Lord cometh.”
11.  Raca in Matthew 5:22,  means, “Thou worthless fellow!”
12.  Talitha Cumi in Mark 5:41,  means, “Maid arise!” 

Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com