The Mountains Sing

The earth is full of Your goodness, Lord; teach me Your statutes.  Psalm 119:64  NASB Goodness – There’s hardly a more insipid translation of ḥesed than the crop of English expressions in Bible translations.  We have “love, unfailing love, steadfast love, loving devotion, mercy, goodness, lovingkindness, faithful love, mercies, constant love, kindness.”  None really capture the…

The Role of Tradition

“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”   Mark 7:8  NASB Tradition of men– What are we to do with tradition?  Actually, the question is a bit more complicated when we realize that the Greek word is parádosis, meaning “what is transmitted.”  In other words, Yeshua is criticizing the behaviors of…

Overture

For the choir director; according to Shushan Eduth. A Mikhtam of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. Psalm 60:1-2 [Hebrew text] NASB translation Shushan Eduth – A mikhtam is, ah, no one quite knows for sure. The…

Principle #5

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Galatians 5:14 One Word – From the general to the specific. The principle of Kelal uferat-perat vekelal teaches from a general principle to a specific application, or from a specific application to a general principle. Rabbi…