For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law of sin and death – What is “the law of sin and death”? If you follow Martin Luther (and others), you might assume that Paul’s use of nomos…
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. Luke 17:2 NASB Would be better – This is one of the scariest verses in the apostolic writings. Typically exegetes use it…
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Ecclesiastes 12:13 NASB The conclusion – “King Solomon summarizes all his teachings with the words ‘the sum of the matter.’ The word sof is written with an enlarged samech to emphasize the fundamental requirement of…
Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence. Leviticus 18:22 JPS Abhorrence – When it comes to the Hebrew word to’evah (abomination, abhorrence), most discussions move immediately to this verse. Why? Because homosexuality is such a hot political/religious topic. The incendiary comments on both sides offer plenty of garbage and confusion. But little progress…
I am a stranger on earth. Hide not your commandments from me. Psalm 119:19 (Abraham Heschel translation) Hide – Where are you going? Ah, the second most important question of life. The angel of the Lord asked Hagar precisely this, and she could not answer him. Can you? Do you really know where you are…
Whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and obtains favor from YHWH; but whoever misses me does violence to his very being [nephesh]; all who hate me love death. Proverbs 8:35-36 NASB with revisions Love death – “Since the culture of ancient times tended to value a person in light of the role performance, personal values…
but they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, Psalm 106:35 NASB Learned – In this verse, David described Israel in the 10th Century BC. He might as well have penned this line 3000 years later. Haven’t we mingled with the nations and learned their practices? Aren’t we in the same place as Israel…
“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 NASB Proud one – The NASB translation attempts to capture the idiomatic meaning of a phrase that literally says, “behold, swollen not straight his nephesh (person).” “Not straight” is the Hebrew lo…
But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. Exodus 9:34 NASB Sinned again – “Although Pharaoh has said earlier that he sinned, the text has never before characterized Pharaoh’s change of mind in that way. Why, all…
A man does not fully understand the words of the Torah until he has come to grief over them. Babylonian Talmud, Gitten 43a Come to grief – Rabbi Huna commented with these words when he acknowledged his own error in interpretation concerning a debate over the conditions of betrothal. Rabbi Huna called for a public…
