Loving Our God by Learning the Language of His Text to Live Out His Teachings
למה Why Study Biblical Hebrew?
One of the questions that has emerged, is the question of "why?" Why study the Biblical languages? Aren't our translations good enough? Learning the language doesn't really make a difference, does it? Aren't the languages just for those academicians and scholars who just want to sound erudite and learned? Why study a language that is, well, foreign to most of us, and if we're honest, difficult to attain? Few of us grew up speaking the language (Hebrew or Greek), and even fewer of us understand linguistics as a whole. It can seems a bit daunting.
Perhaps. But for those who are bilingual (and in California many of us speak "Spanglish"), or have taken the time to live in another land and speak another language, they know that you don't simply learn new words, a new alphabet, and a new way of writing; you learn a new culture, a new way of looking at the world, and a new way of understanding reality. Nicholas Stavroulakis, in his essay The Jews of Greece (Talos Press, 1997) wrote: "It has been said by the rabbis that with each language a man learns he also acquires an additional soul." (p.15) In addition to several other reasons that will be shared, perhaps this is one of them; that we desire to acquire the soul of the Scriptures.
שמע!
An example of that soul is the word "שמע" literally meaning "hear," or "listen." But in Hebrew, it also means "obey." Try listening to Jesus' words with that understanding, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mt.11:15; Mk.4:9; Lk.8:8).
Recommended page: Hebrew4Christians, and specifically the page, "Why Study Hebrew?"
1. Any other reasons for studying Biblical Hebrew?
2. What are some other examples that illuminate the reasons to study Biblical Hebrew?
Perhaps. But for those who are bilingual (and in California many of us speak "Spanglish"), or have taken the time to live in another land and speak another language, they know that you don't simply learn new words, a new alphabet, and a new way of writing; you learn a new culture, a new way of looking at the world, and a new way of understanding reality. Nicholas Stavroulakis, in his essay The Jews of Greece (Talos Press, 1997) wrote: "It has been said by the rabbis that with each language a man learns he also acquires an additional soul." (p.15) In addition to several other reasons that will be shared, perhaps this is one of them; that we desire to acquire the soul of the Scriptures.
שמע!
An example of that soul is the word "שמע" literally meaning "hear," or "listen." But in Hebrew, it also means "obey." Try listening to Jesus' words with that understanding, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mt.11:15; Mk.4:9; Lk.8:8).
Recommended page: Hebrew4Christians, and specifically the page, "Why Study Hebrew?"
1. Any other reasons for studying Biblical Hebrew?
2. What are some other examples that illuminate the reasons to study Biblical Hebrew?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Coach QUI on
-
To answer your question I totally agree with the Hebrew and Greek being the soul of God's Word. I look at it like this. If I told someone who speaks soley Russian something in English they wouldn't understand the gist of what I am saying. They will pick out what they can translate and work their own opinion in my statement. The original text of the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek. In order for us to understand the substance or soul of the scriptures we must understand the language and dialect of that time. That's why I thirst for that truth.
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Kevin on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
