Herman Who?
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:11 NASB
Hard to explain – Is the good news hard to explain? Is the story of Yeshua difficult to make intelligible? Is your experience with grace exhausting to put into words? I wouldn’t think so. The message is really pretty simple. Its implications might be enormous and complicated, but the fact that God loves us and has concern for us seems fairly easy to comprehend. Furthermore, most of us don’t have a great deal of trouble talking about what has happened to us since we experienced grace. So why does the author of Hebrews lead us to believe that it is just so complicated that only Ph.D.’s will get it. The problem isn’t with the message. The problem is with the translation.
The Greek word is dusermeneutos. This is the combination of dus (meaning “difficult”) and hermeneuo (meaning “to interpret”). But hermeneuo in the New Testament really means “to translate from one language to another.” You will find it in John 1:38, 1:42 and 9:7 where it is without any doubt an expression concerning translation. Why is this important? Because “explanation” and “interpretation” are not quite the same as “translation.” When we explain or interpret, we add meaning to a sentence. When we translate, we transmit meaning from one language to another. Consider the difference in this verse. Is the author saying that it is difficult to explain (to add the proper meaning) the connection between Yeshua and the order of Melchizedek or is he saying that the translation from this Hebraic concept into Greek is difficult? Is the audience unable to grasp it quickly because they are spiritually dull (as we usually understand this verse) or is it because they don’t have a keen grasp of the translation? Which is it?
Since hermeneuo is always associated with “translation” in the New Testament, how did we come to believe that dusermeneutos was a description of difficult spiritual understanding? The reason for this interpretation is that dusermeneutos is found in other Greek writings where it means “difficult to describe.” But those writings are from later periods than the letter to the Hebrews. Furthermore, this word is found only once in the New Testament, here in this verse. That means there are no other occurrences for comparison within the context of the Netzarim Ketuvim. We might conclude that translating dusermeneutos as “hard to explain” is really an interpretation. It adds meaning to the text. That raises a further question: Why would the translators find it necessary to use “hard to explain” rather than the more obvious “hard to translate”? Do you think there might be a theological motive here, one that suggests the author of Hebrews is not struggling with translation problems but rather with spiritual issues? Does this suggest that the author of Hebrews is having difficulty conveying the idea of a new high priest and the replacement of the old sacrifices rather than simply having problems writing about Hebrew concepts in Greek words? If you were a Jew, would you find it hard to explain the idea of the sacrifice of the Suffering Servant or would you simply say that some Hebrew ideas don’t have exact Greek equivalents?
Topical Index: hard to explain, dusermeneutos, Hebrews 5:11
Herman Utics. Yeah, I remember him! He’s been with us a long time.
A (prodigal) Sower went forth to sow. He scattered seed everywhere, generously, and without concern for where the seed landed. The seed was sown. The job was done. The “good” seed was everywhere. Not all of the seed,however, produced a crop, for there was a problem with and in the soil. For this story is not about the seed or the Sower, this story is about receptivity of the soil. Was the soil prepared and ready to receive (to warmly welcome) the seed? Well, yes and no. Some was, -some wasn’t. But the Sower continued to scatter and to sow the seed.
What makes good soil? (Maybe Herman knows!) Sometimes it takes some deep plowing to break up the fallow (unproductive) ground. Lots of sunshine, lots of water- maybe some additives to the soil? Good soil has to be worked. It takes labor to produce good dirt. It just doesn’t happen, (very often anyway..)
Soil is definitely different, but in this story the difference is in the dirt! There is nothing wrong with the seed..- it is good seed, the solution is the soil.
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the Breath of Life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2.7) -Not much has changed, has it?
Of course, we all want to be the good soil, but that ‘breaking up’ part hurts! It tends to destroy everything we thought our lives were about! But, after that, comes the sunshine and rain. Always so welcome.
In my western, Greek-style thinking, this parable has bothered me, because (being the pragmatic that I am), I do not like that on the face of it, there seems to be only a 25% chance that the seed will fall on good soil. I want better odds for humans! But WE are only dirt, and the seed is THE WORD.
When I heard Brad Scott’s teaching on it, I saw a different way to understand this idea. He takes it back (just as Skip has told us) to the things in the daily lives of the audience to whom Jesus was speaking. Their culture understood these references more than we do, because it was part of their lives to be participating in agriculture, and be aware of such connections.
http://www.wildbranch.org/
Hi Skip,
I may be dull of thinking today as I’m struggling to connect yesterday and today together in how to interpret this verse. Can you connect your thoughts from yesterday and today together into an appropriate translation for this verse? Thanks for your help!
I would like to help, but I am struggling to understand what you mean (that’s a hermeneutical problem, not a translation problem). If you could just elaborate a bit, I might be able to understand and reply. What is it that you can’t quite connect?
Concerning Him we have much to say..- Who is “Him.” Concerning Him. Our entire Bible- any “version” is the Revelation of Jesus (who is the) Christ, the second Adam, the G-d/man. The word (in it’s entirety) became flesh. Christ is “seen” in Genesis,Exodus,Leviticus, etc. This is “hermeneutics.” Slice the Bible anywhere and look for Christ- He is there, somewhere in the shadows, sometimes as plain as the nose on your face. The master-theme (and the Bible does have a theme to it) is “behold, the Lamb.”
Have you seen this man? Have you seen such love as this? That G-d, our Creator, -it is He who has made us..(Psalm 100) would become a man (ordinary, humble, son of a carpenter) and live among us, as a man and then willingly allow Himself to be crucified as a criminal is unbelievable. Especially if the ears are “dull of hearing,” for this is the gospel of the Messiah- G-d became one of us, the Son of man, that we might become one of HIs, sons (and daughters), “priests and kings,” of YHWH.
Yes, I am aware this might sound egotistic, but to a few, we know it as a glowing reality and a blessed hope- “I belong to Him.” I have been “bought with a price.” I am His by right of creation and I am twice His by right of Calvary. Does anyone comprehend how this could be?
“Amazing love..” how can it be? That Thou, my G-d, shouldst die for me. -But wait!- there’s more! (always more..) for this my friends is the “never-ending story!”- and yet it is more than a story. Once again- it is a glowing reality. I, (the sinner), am heaven-born and heaven-bound. How can I be so sure of this? I’m glad you asked.. Let me tell you about a Savior..
Is this “type of talk” offensive to you? Does the gospel (good news) offend? Am I aware of this? Yes. Some do not want to hear this- they are: “willingly ignorant.” I have stared and stared at these two words. Yes, in “unbelief.” It is “unbelievable” anyone would want to be “willingly ignorant.” This amazes me.
“At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,” (Acts 7.57) “… they all rushed at him (Stephen), dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. . . . And Saul was there, giving approval to his death” (Acts 7.57 to 8:1).
After Stephen was martyred, Saul went door to door in Jerusalem finding people who believed that Jesus is the Messiah.
“Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:3).
Yes, this is Saul- later known (given a new name!) as Rabbi Sha’ul- or as we know him, “Paul.” Missionary to the Gentiles. A changed man- wouldn’t you say? What, (or more accurately) “who” made the change in Saul? so changed- He received a new name! More “Herman Utics?” Abram received a new name when he entered into a blood-covenant relationship with Yah. He became Abraham, receive part of G-d’s name as his own. Why? because G-d was his friend. (do a little study on the word “friend” and more study on blood covenanting) – this will “pop the top on the bottle.”
We too, (who are His) have received a “new name.” It will be revealed at some point in the future, (unknown to “any man”- that’s my name- “any man”- you may call be “Bubba.” Call me anything you wish- just don’t call me late for dinner! lol!
Yes.. -concerning “Him” we have much to say.. “prophet, priest, king”- these are only the beginning.. If “any man”- (hey!- that’s me!) have ears to hear.. Faith comes by hearing- doesn’t it? And without faith- it is impossible to please G-d. How does “any man” know these things?- “It is written.” Ask Herman Utics, -he’ll tell you.
This is truly a serious issue. Having been raised as a Pentecostal, I had such a limited understanding of what the text actually says. Coupled with not being able to understand the jargon of the King James, and super-biblical application through self-proclaimed prophets and those claiming to have the gift of interpretation tickling my ears to hear a “good word”, little did I know at the time, how the Scriptures were being distorted. Additionally, little did I understand how His grace would bring me to the place where I would realize how my love for Him would be lived out through obedience to His commands and not what the denominational tradition taught. Not only do I think a lot of this teaching borders on ignorance, but I also think there exists the willful ignorance of living the life with willful blinders on. Don’t get me wrong here, I am not blasting Pentecostals, I am speaking from my own experience. In speaking with others within the denomination, a wide range of beliefs exist, mostly focusing on the supernatural abilities God gives to those who ask Him for them. Money, favor, grace, healing, tongues, interpretations, position, special gifts, etc. The list goes on, and although I do not think it wrong necessarily to ask Him for these, our focus should not be on how to acquire things, but rather how to know HIM better. Many
Bible study methods are based solely on taking the text and privately interpreting what the Holy Spirit speaks to you as an individual. Is it any wonder, Christianity consists of 26,000+ divisions?
As Gayle so beautifully stated above, we ARE but human dirtclods (may I be quite common here), and irregardless of the modern day profiteers (masquerading as prophets!), the WORD of the Mighty One IS the seed. IT is the only thing that is planted and grows in our hearts to produce the harvest God desires. Through this outworking of Wordgrowth of hearts that love the Father, we become conformed to His image of His dear Son. Our Messiah who lived a sinless, fully obedient life, was thereby able to offer Himself up for us, knowing we needed Someone to love us like no one else but God. Who else would love us enough to tell us the right way to live and expect us to obey, yet lovingly discipline us until we get in proper alignment? Unless we grow in the knowledge of who He is expressed through His Word, we are stunted and act more like mongrels instead of pure and holy children of the Most High.
It may be apparent to some that I speak with an edge toward those who are raking in millions and living like the kings and priests they claim to represent. I find this to be a shameful example and a blight on the world which is quickly fading to black. Many who are hanging on by a thread, refuse to see the agenda of those they follow because they do not know any more about the Word of God than what these profiteers are spouting. Skip gave a bit of teaching about prophets a while back and the most obvious marker for modern day prophets is their accuracy. What pushes me over the edge is, some of them when confronted with this issue say they will admit to being wrong and excuse themselves stating God has different standards for prophets since the days of Christ. WHAT!!! Let’s get back to the Word, brothers and sisters! Somethings are non-negotiable and this is one for sure.
If we do not know the Truth, how will we know what a lie is? The scary thing is, once we know the truth, then will we obey it? In my case, I must confess, I struggle with living between two worlds.
Mary, lol!- is this the start of an “online romance?” I love your heart. (I really do!) Somebody loves Yeshua and it shows!
Once again we turn to the scriptures for comfort. I believe we are seeing many tares among the wheat. What did our Master say? “Let the two grow together.” Every one of us (the good, the bad and the ugly) will give account of himself to G-d and will stand before His Maker. Yes, this includes me and yes, this includes you. In all actuality (for real) we stand before the unseen ONE (and a cloud of witnesses) right here,-right now. Today, and yes, right here where we (each) “live and move and have our being.” G-d IS with us, always. Are we “practicing His presence?” It’s definitely a different way to live but so “worth it.” And actually, (dare I say it?) rather fun! To live by faith (our obedient response to “what He said”) and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5.7) takes some practice, but all it takes is for us to say “Yes” to Him and as His mother said unto the servants (us)- “whatever He says unto you- do it.” What would be more wise than this? What would be more beneficial (to us, our family, our community? More world-changing,life-changing than to obey G-d? The Bible says- (would we listen better if it were Ben Franklin or Martha Stewart speaking?)- “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD and to sing praises into Thy name, O most High..” Is this true? Yes, it is! (try it- you’ll like it!!)
Hi Carl, YES, I DO love Him. He is The Way The Truth and The Life…PERIOD! My prayer is for the body’s ways to become His Way in every Way, from knowing the truth and living as our Master. This is a great task but God is able to perform it!! I do not know how, I just know He IS! Bless you brother.
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12
Skip, I am not a member of your community but my friend forwards these articles to me and I find them very interesting and thought provoking.
However on this particular article I am not really clear in what you are saying. Isn’t this letter written to Hebrews? Even if they spoke Greek I would think they would be familiar with Melchizedek, so why would there be a problem with translation (or explain)? Verse 12 goes on to say that ‘by now you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God’. It sounds like these Hebrews had not grown spiritually to a ‘mature man’ but were still babes in Christ. Am I missing something?