Aramaic prophecies using idioms

Aramaic prophecies using idioms

There are simply just hundreds and thousands of prophecies in the bible and if you were to examine them, you will find that they employ lots of Aramaic idioms and symbols to carry a message. This message is not meant to be understood literally word for word, but to be understood within the language and customs of the Aramaic/Hebrew people. That was the original intention of the author of these prophecies.

It is impossible to go through all these prophecies, but below I have highlighted some of them as examples:

1. Isaiah 2:12-14

Isa 2:12  For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 

Isa 2:13  And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, 

Isa 2:14  And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, 

1a: Idiom: cedars of Lebanon

Meaning: those in power and have longevity

1b: Idiom: oaks of Bashan

Meaning: those noble, great, strong, proud and influential people

1c: Idiom: upon all the hills that are lifted up

        Meaning: upon those smaller powers that have exalted themselves

2. Isaiah 2:22

Isa 2:22  Cease yourself from man, whose breath is in his nostril, for in what is he to be esteemed? 

2a: Idiom: breath is in his nostril

Meaning: avoiding a man who is continually angry, explosive, and impulsive.

3. Isaiah 11: 6-8

Isa 11:6  The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 

Isa 11:7  The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 

Isa 11:8  The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

3a. Idiom: wolf, leopard, lion, bear

        Meaning: They symbolize strong, powerful, dictatorial nations that oppress and seek to devour the helpless and defenseless nations.

3b. Idiom: Lamb, young goat, calf, cow

        Meaning: They symbolize weaker and smaller nations, nations that have no great military might or fortification.

3c. Idiom: A little child shall lead them

        Meaning: Political leaders shall be simple, sincere leaders, and not crooked leaders. (It does not mean literally a small child shall be a nation’s leader).

3d. Idiom: The suckling child playing with the cobra, putting hand in the den of the snake

        Meaning: The power of sincere pure-hearted leaders who can negotiate with the enemies of their country.

3e. Idiom: The lion shall eat straw like an ox

        Meaning: Powerful nations shall be contented with their own internal resources. They shall not plunder other nation’s resources.

[Note: Isaiah 11:6-8 is a prophetic passage that speaks about the coming of the Messiah that will reveal truth, justice and contentment to all humanity so that peace and harmony will reign among the nations.]

Who are the Samaritans?

 

Who are the Samaritans?

1. The 12 tribes of Israel was divided into northern Israel (10 tribes forming northern state) and southern Judah (2 tribes forming southern state).

2. The northern Israel was weak and conquered by Assyria, a huge empire to the east of northern Israel.

3. Many of the Jews from northern Israel were carried away, or dispersed into other nations round about. However, a small minority 
remained back in northern Israel, and intermarried with the Assyrians, who migrated there to exert influence.

4. This group of Jews, and "inter-married" Jews, and the migrants are called Samaritans, and they have made Samaria their capital, and created their own temple to worship Yahweh at Mount Gerizim in Samaria (Judah made Jerusalem their worship centre).

5. The Jews who were in the southern Judah do not regard the Samaritans as pure, treat them as non-Jews. They were equated as Gentiles.

6. The Samaritans have a slightly different Torah (Jewish Law) as compared to the Jews (from the south). Certain verses were altered to include Mount Gerizim as the centre of worship.

7. The Samaritans do not accept the other Jewish books of the Prophets, Poetry, Instructions (these books are called Tanakh).

8. When modern Israel became a nation in 1948, the Samaritans were excluded from being called Jews, and cannot be given citizenship in modern Israel. However, I believe this has changed lately with the amendment to the regulations.

See:

a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRrFrx8-wEg

b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaUI5fVFLkg

c: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZilMStpaqPc

d. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-D8Q6_XpI8

e: Further reading:

1. Samaritans:

https://factsanddetails.com/world/cat55/sub394/entry-5930.html

Aramaic idiom: Lot’s wife: a pillar of salt

 

Aramaic idiom: Lot’s wife: a pillar of salt

1. The story of Lot’s wife is found in Genesis 19:24-26

Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 

Gen 19:25  And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 

Gen 19:26  But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 

2. This story of Lot’s wife is on many people’s minds because it was also mentioned by Jesus in the New Testament in Luke 17:32, unlike some obscure figure in the Old Testament that is only mentioned once.

3. According to Aramaic scholars, the term “to become a pillar of salt” is an Aramaic idiom that means “to die from shock”, “to be paralyzed until dead”.

4. Further reading on this can be referred to: George M. Lamsa, Old Testament Light: A Scriptural Commentary Based on the Aramaic of the Ancient Peshitta Text, p. 56

5. When I was younger I was very intrigued by how a human being of flesh and blood can be turned into salt (sodium chloride?). Of course, we always explained it as that God can do anything, and whatever He wants. He can turn a human being into an ant also, like what you see in those movies. Maybe we had been too influenced by myths and fantasy.

6. Now, after understanding Near Eastern idioms (or metaphors), then I realized that this term “to become a pillar of salt” actually means “to die”.

7. Just like in English you have so many idioms on “to die” or “death” like:

• Kick the bucket
• Six feet underground
• Your number is up
• Meet your Maker
• Give up the ghost
• Go to the big place in the sky
• Breath his last

Has a Christian ever done an expository study on “to kick the bucket”, and “how to kick”, “which leg do you use to kick”, “do you wear a shoe to kick”, “how far or hard do you kick”, “was it a wooden bucket or a steel bucket”, “how big was the bucket”, “what was inside the bucket”..?

NO, of course not. We in the English speaking community recognizes and understands that the term “to kick the bucket” means “to die”. We understand that it is an English idiom / metaphor.

So likewise, there are Aramaic idioms as well.

Question 1: Why do Christians not understand that “to become a pillar of salt” is an Aramaic idiom meaning “to die from shock”? And an idiom is not to be taken literally.

Question 2: Why do Christians look for salt formation around the ancient city of Sodom, and think that is Lot’s wife? Silly isn’t it? (Chemically speaking, IF Lot’s wife is salt, wouldn’t the salt had been melted / washed away after thousands of years?)

Question 3: Did God turned Lot's wife into a "pillar of salt"? Did God killed her, as it were? No. The bible story did NOT say that God did this to her. The reason Lot's wife died was because she could not take in what she saw. Her other relatives were still in the city, and she was shocked at the incident happening to them and the city. So, preachers, please do not present a wrong narrative of God's character, slandering God's character into bad reputation, and say that God killed her (this narrative was drummed into my mind for decades).

8. Anyway, for your casual reading pleasure, archaeologists actually found a part of a hill near Mount Sodom consisting of rock salt. There was a protruding rock formation, weathered down by winds and rains through the thousands of years and the fraternity calls it “Lot’s wife”.

See: https://epod.usra.edu/blog/2015/04/lots-wife.html

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I did another post on "remember Lot's wife", with regards to the End Times, and you can read it here:

https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2021/04/remember-lots-wife-luke-1732.html

Bonus reading: Nabal and his wife (Aramaic idioms)

In 1 Samuel 25, we read of a rich man called Nabal and his wife Abigail. David was passing by, and asked for food for his men, but Nabal refused. Nabal's men told him that David's men actually protected them night and day when they were together in the fields, so it's alright to return a favor of providing sustenance to them. When David heard about the arrogance of Nabal, he prepared to attack him and his household. Abigail heard about the imminent attack, and went ahead to meet David with food and gifts  to try and apologize on behalf of Nabal. David accepted her apology, and averted the attack on Nabal. The next day when Abigail told her husband Nabal on what she did, Nabal's "heart died within him" meaning "his heart suffered a stroke", and "he became a stone" meaning "he became paralyzed and motionless". Subsequently, Nabal died.

updated: 10 August 2021