Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? Psalm 139:21 NASB Hate– When is hate a virtue? You might reply, “When we hate sin.” But typically we add, “but love the sinner.” Ah, if it were only that simple. You see, the verb used here, śānēʾ, doesn’t make such…
He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. Proverbs 13:24 NASB Rod – God’s idea of training involves correction, sometimes correction that stings. We, of course, are more civilized. Who would ever consider punishing a child with a rod these days? Probably only those who risk being taken…
See my enemies who are many and with outrageous hatred despise me. Psalm 25:19 Robert Alter translation Despise – Buried in the Hebrew text is a powerful repetition not evident in Alter’s translation (but clear in the ESV). “Hatred” and “despise” are from the same Hebrew root, sane. To hate describes an emotional reaction of…
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26 NASB Hate – What in the world can Yeshua possibly mean by this statement? Taken at face value, it has…
But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.” Psalm 50:16-17 NASB Cast behind you – Who are the wicked? Who qualify as rasha? We can probably recount a number…
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22 NASB Your enemy – “Fight fire with fire.” That’s the common point of view. What someone dishes out…
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25 Hates – In Greek, the root is miseo. It usually implies active ill will toward someone or something. It is the opposite of agapao (to love, cf. Matthew 5:43). This is…
