May those who [af]fear You turn to me, and those who know Your testimonies. Psalm 119:79 NASB Turn to me – šûb. 1050 times this verb is used in the Tanakh. We most often think of it in terms of repentance, that is, returning to God’s ways. “The Bible is rich in idioms describing man’s responsibility…
Then God spoke all these words, saying, Exodus 20:1 NASB All these words – kāl dābārim, “all words.” But what is the meaning of “all”? This verse precedes the recitation of the ten commandments. Are just the Ten Commandments included in “all”? What about the rest of God’s words to Moses? Orthodox Rabbinic Judaism has a…
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.” Genesis 41:39 NRSVA God – English doesn’t quite reveal what is happening in this story. Why? Because the English translation “God” can cover both elohim and YHVH. And in this case, it’s important…
“Yes, I am coming quickly.,” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20b Quickly – Another annual cycle. Maybe this last one wasn’t quite the same as the pagan idea of eternal return, that is, just going around and around over and over. Maybe this last one created some changes; changes that will spin out new opportunities…
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of YHWH, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances Ezra 7:10 JPS 1917 To seek – Judaism and Hellenism, Martin Hengel’s magnum opus, might at first glance appear to be a study of the difference between these two streams. At…
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4-5 NASB 1995 Do not answer/ answer – Proverbs is instruction in piety. It’s practical. It’s didactic. It’s anthropological (human) rather than divine. “Live…
Grant us grace, LORD, grant us grace. For we are sorely sated with scorn. Psalm 123:3 Robert Alter Grant – How did you come to believe? I’m not asking how you came into religion. That happens mostly by drifting through cultural or family expectations. No, I’m asking something else. How did you realize that God…
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” Genesis 1:6 NASB Expanse – Remember this? “. . . the Ishmaelian reading of experience is, like all logical readings, subject to refutation and falsification,” while “Akiva’s esoteric reading of experience is, like all…
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB Time – How difficult it is for us to not read this verse (and the following elaboration) as if it is about dates on the calendar! The addition of just a few extra words pushes…
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,”James 1:2 NASB Joy– I don’t think we listen to James. We simply do not regard trials as joyful. I don’t regard trials as joyful. If I really look at my own emotional response to James’ instructions, I discover that his words don’t penetrate my heart. Trials…
