For the LORD listens to the needy, and His captives He has not despised. Psalm 69:34 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Captives – Paul often introduces himself as doúlos christóu which is typically translated “bond-servant.” But that’s not what it really means. A doúlos is a slave—compulsory, bound service. In the Greek world, this designation was…
Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20 NIV Poor – Don’t read it in Matthew—yet. Matthew doesn’t report Yeshua’s statement quite the same way, and for good reason, as we will see. No, read it in Luke. It’s much more comforting. …
They do not plead the cause, the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor. Jeremiah 5:28b NASB Poor – Hebrew makes several distinctions when it comes to the poor. “ʾebyôn emphasizes ‘need’ and thus is to be distinguished from ʿonî ‘afflicted,’ dal ‘poor,’ and rāš…
