Translating without Reading

And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.  Exodus 1:21  ESV Families – Here’s the problem.  The pronoun expression “them” is lahem.  It is the preposition le plus the pronoun hem.  But the pronoun here is masculine in spite of the fact that we assume it refers to the midwives.  Something doesn’t look…

Four-Part Harmony

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 18:19  NASB Agree – What does it mean to agree?  Does it mean to think precisely the same way, to mimic each…

The God Paradigm

When God began to create heaven and earth—  Genesis 1:1  JPS God – Now don’t get too upset about the JPS translation.  It only tries to capture the fact that the opening word, bere’shiyt, does not have a definite article attached (“the” beginning) and therefore must be understood in some other way than an announcement…

The Government of God

All who accept the yoke of the Torah are relieved of the yoke of the government and the yoke of worldly affairs.  All who cast off the yoke of Torah, the yoke of the government and the yoke of worldly affairs is put upon them.  Pirke Avot 3:6 Yoke – No, you won’t find this…

Relationship Management

And the Twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables . . .”  Acts 6:2  NASB Not desirable – What does God want you to do?  Ah, while you are answering that question you must also ask,…

Material Witness

saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.”  Matthew 23:2-3  NASB But do not do – So you got the picture?  You realize…

Donna Dozier’s book

I have quoted from Donna’s PhD dissertation in past Today’s Word editions.  I am proud to say that Donna has finished her work and it is now available on Amazon.  She examines the transition from Judaism to Christianity in the early centuries.  You will find it very informative. Just click here to order a copy.

Statute of Limitation

For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.  Hebrews 12:17  NASB No place – This verse scares me to death.  I know the story of Esau.  So do you.[1]  The author of Hebrews…