Translating without Reading

And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.  Exodus 1:21  ESV Families – Here’s the problem.  The pronoun expression “them” is lahem.  It is the preposition le plus the pronoun hem.  But the pronoun here is masculine in spite of the fact that we assume it refers to the midwives.  Something doesn’t look…

Zero Sum Game

“ . . . they have received their reward.”  Matthew 6:2, 5, 16  ESV Reward – What if I told you that God’s pie is only so big?  What if you recognized that there is only so much of God’s blessings to be spread around?  What if you changed your view of the infinite provisions…

Fire Insurance

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22 Will reward – Does this translation make sense to you?  Is God promising to give you a reward…

Jewels In The Crown

And, behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward with Me, to render to each as his work is. Revelation 22:12 Render – If you really think about this verse, doesn’t it seem just a bit odd?  After all, are we really expecting a reward for our faithfulness?  And aren’t we rescued by grace?  Do…

Painful Consequences

“I, YHWH, search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Yirmeyahu 17:10 (ISR) According To – The Hebrew here is not difficult, at least not on the surface.  It is simply the letter bet attached to the nouns for “ways” and…

Faith Is Action

“You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many. Matthew 25:23 Faithful – God gives. That is an essential part of the foundation of Christian thought. God, the Sovereign Master of the universe, gives. He determines the distribution of assets. They are His, not ours. He determines the degree of obligation….

Hebrew Architecture

After these things, the word of YHWH was manifest to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you, your reward will increase greatly.” Genesis 15:1 Shield – As we all know, Hebrew is a language written only in consonants. Furthermore, it lacks any punctuation. That means that the…

Getting What We Don’t Deserve

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He has declared He would bring upon them.  And He did not do it. Jonah 3:10 Deeds – How many sermons have you heard from that famous passage in Chronicles?  “If my people, who are called…

Getting What We Deserve

“As you have done, it shall be done to you; your reward shall return on your head!” Obadiah 1:15 Reward – Hebrew justice is based on the idea of measure for measure.  It is summarized in this verse from one of the least known prophets.  What you have done to others will be done to…

For Services Rendered

I will sing to YHWH because He has rewarded me.  Psalm 13:6 Rewarded – This verse sounds like money in the bank.  But before you run off to cash God’s reward check, read the remaining verses in this psalm. God rewards the faithful, no doubt about it.  God protects the righteous.  He brings justice to…