Today’s Word
Textual Criticism
As for Zillah, she bore Tubal-Cain, who forged every tool of copper and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. Genesis 4:22 Robert Alter Who forged – Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan offers the following translation of the phrase in this text: “a maker of all copper and iron implements,” but he notes that the Targum…
Imaginative Exegesis
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…
Vow Times Two
And should you tell of this mission of ours, we will be clear of your vow that you made us vow. Joshua 2:20 Robert Alter Your vow/us vow – Alter’s translation helps us realize that the same Hebrew word is used in both occurrences. If you read this verse in the NASB, you probably would…
The Nature of a Commandment – Initial Thoughts
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. Galatians 3:25 NASB Under – Paul’s view of the Law is probably the most controversial element of all his writings. It certainly separated Christianity from Judaism and it contributed to replacement theology and anti-Judaism, perhaps even to pogroms. When the Church interpreted Paul…
Cultural Progression
Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31 NASB Doubt – As we noted in other studies,[1] there is no Hebrew word for doubt in the Tanakh. That means that prior to the return from Babylon, Hebrew had…
In the Grip
Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31 NASB Took hold – “Hold on! I’m coming!” Rescue work. That’s what’s needed. Unfortunately, most of the time we don’t even know we’re falling. We’re so caught up in the…
Search more than 7000 word studies here
Recent Today’s Word
- Too Close for Comfort (1)
- Expected Routine
- Paraphrase Assistance
- Qere/Ketiv
- A Second Time
- Qoph
- Capisco o Conosco
- Double Time
