The Peaceful War Against Evil

When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the Lord your God hands them over to you and you take them away captive,  Deuteronomy 21:10  NASB When – The most important word in this verse is not “battle” or “enemies.”  It’s not the claim that God will fight on your side.  It’s the opening conjunction, the…

SARS and SASS

And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.  Luke 8:14 NASB Worries – SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) first appeared in China in 2002.  Its current strain…

Sex on Demand

If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights.  Exodus 21:10 NASB (first published in February 2014, with additions) Conjugal rights – If you were ever to doubt the upside-down nature of the Hebraic view of the role of women, this verse would surely seem to…

Not There Nowhere

He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?”  Genesis 37:30  NASB Not there – In this verse, the words “not there” are not there.  The translators have added an explanation to the text, implying that Reuben declares Joseph is no longer in the pit. …

Reading What Isn’t There

And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people will be stronger than the other; and the older will serve the younger.”  Genesis 25:23 NASB Nations – Do you remember the remarks about messy Hebrew?  Do you recall that translating the second part…

Hidden in Plain Sight

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are…

The End

The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.  Psalm 102:28  NASB Descendants – Hebrew is a language of the land.  It’s not too surprising that our word “descendants” is zeraʿ in Hebrew, i.e., seed.  In fact, given the ancient mythology of pagan creation stories via the sperm of the…

The Eternal God

In time of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.  Even they will perish, but You endure; all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.  But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. …

The Eternal God

In time of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.  Even they will perish, but You endure; all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will pass away.  But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. …

Up, Up, and Away

I say, “My God, do not take me away in the middle of my days, Your years are throughout all generations.  Psalm 102:24 NASB Take me away – When you read this verse, does it seem like a non sequitur?  What does “Your years are throughout” have to do with “don’t take me away”?  Of course, God is…