Let the waters’ current not sweep me away and let not the deep swallow me and let the Pit not close its mouth on me. Psalm 69:16 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter The Pit – Think of Beersheba. The well of seven. bĕʾēr, the Hebrew word for well or pit, is used in Genesis 16:14 in…
If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. Philemon 1:17 NASB Partner – Perhaps we need to add some additional synonyms to the English translation “partner.” The Greek term is koinōnós, obviously connected to the familiar koinōnía, also from the root koinós. This group of Greek words is all about sharing. Whether it is…
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; Genesis 16:1 NIV Hagar – Who was Hagar? The question seems innocent enough until you consider Abraham’s relationship (or relations) with her. That leads to the propensity to enhance her status and character in order to squelch what might be…
He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave woman, from where have you come, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” Genesis 16:8 NASB From the presence – How easy it is to forget that Hebrew is concrete! Removing the physical element by translating according to our social…
God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Genesis 21:17 NASB Crying– I’m reading a book by Julia Blum. It purports to be an examination…
Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” Genesis 16:13 NASB Who sees – “I see you.” How rare it is to find someone who can actually be seen. Most of the time…
Then those two – Mahlon and Chilion – also died; so the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband. Ruth 1:5 JPS Without – What Naomi lost completely overshadows what Naomi gained. In her mind, the loss of husband and sons means the loss of everything important to her. In fact,…
Aunque yo doy testimonio de mí mismo, mi testimonio es verdadero, porque yo sé de dónde he venido y adónde voy; pero vosotros no sabéis de dónde vengo ni adónde voy. Juan 8:14 Doy Testimonio – ¿Por qué les incomodaba tanto las enseñanzas de Yeshua a los fariseos? Sentían desconcierto porque no encajaba el protocolo…
“Even if I bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I go.” John 8:14 Bear Witness – Why were the Pharisees so distraught about Yeshua’s teaching? They were distressed because He did not fit the proper protocol. In rabbinic Judaism, a true teacher had to…
And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave-girl, where did you come from and where are you going?” Genesis 16:8 Hagar – By now you are well aware that names in the Hebrew Scriptures often carry deeper meanings. Sometimes the Scriptures explain those meanings. Sometimes they don’t, and we are left to discover them ourselves. And sometimes…
