Influence of Aramaic on the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

 Influence of Aramaic on the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Aramaic/Hebrew.?

1. For a start, there is a big controversy on the actual number of gospels written in the bible. As more and more recent archaeological discoveries of ancient texts were exposed, the bible that we have today is considered to be incomplete or in factual error, maybe due to the generational translations and deliberate omissions. 

The bible is just a collection of books written throughout the centuries, and the group of men under the Emperor Constantine (through the Council of Nicaea in 325CE) were ordered to assemble the books (to prevent any more infighting among the various religious groups as to who is right and who is more authentic), so that the empire will not be fractured by the different religious groups. It was more of a political decision wielding control over the region via a common religious text. They determined what is acceptable and what is not. That’s why some gospels were omitted (like the gospel of Thomas, gospel of Mary, gospel of Judas, gospel of Peter, and gospel of Philip), and certain Old Testament books were removed.

2. The lack of original complete ancient scriptures or texts has hindered the findings whether all the scriptures were written in Aramaic, Hebrew and/or Greek. It is understandable since much of them have been destroyed by calamities, wear and tear, or just lost through the ages. Up till today, much archaeological work is still on-going, while those found are slowly and painstakingly being translated from the original into modern text for clearer comprehension.

3. From recent findings in the Old Testament, it was found that official documents related to the rebuilding of the ancient temple were entirely written in Aramaic (not Hebrew). The book of Ezra has big portions totally in Aramaic (Ezra 4:8 – 6:18; 7:12 – 26). The book of Daniel (Daniel 2:4 – 7:28) has large portions all in Aramaic (not Hebrew). Stories about Daniel and his friends, his visions were all written in Aramaic (not Hebrew). 

Way back in Genesis 31:47,

Genesis 31:47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.

“Jegarsahadutha” is an Aramaic (not Hebrew) term meaning “pile of stones”, while “Galeed” is a Hebrew term also meaning “pile of stones”. The meaning is the same, signifying a metaphorical “heap of witness” as a memorial to the covenant made between Jacob and Laban.

In Jeremiah 10:11, the ENTIRE verse is Written in Aramaic.! Not Hebrew!

 

Jeremiah 10:11 in Aramaic

4. Coming to the New Testament, we find many portions were in Aramaic (as far as recent archaeology shows). Below are just some of the more prominent verses.

“fool” (raka) Matt 5:22

“zealot” (kananaios, from Aram. kan’an) Matt 10:4; Mark 3:18.

“Save now” (hosanna) Matt 21:9 (2x), 15; Mark 11:9; John 12:13

“O God! O God! To what a purpose You have kept me!” (Eloi, eloi, lema sabaxthani) Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46

“Little girl, rise.” (talitha koum) Mark 5:41.

“Be opened” (effatha) Mark 7:34

“Teacher/Rabbi” (rabbouni) Mark 10:51; John 20:16

“Father” (abba) Mark 14:36; Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6

Maranatha meaning “Lord, come!” 1 Corinthians 16:22

5. The Greek influence on the Israelites were significant after the conquest of the Near East empires by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE. His 4 generals carved out his empire after his death to promote the Greek rule over his conquered lands including Eastern Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine (or Israel) and much of Mesopotamia. Then the Romans came and took over after the Greeks in 55 BCE, but much of the Greek culture and language remained after the conquest until today.

6. So, the people living during the time of the gospels were influenced by Aramaic, then Hebrew and then Greek. It was a period of mixture, as can be seen when Paul switched languages halfway in his presentation in Acts 21:37 – 22:2. (Paul used many Aramaic idioms too: https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2022/02/how-did-paul-used-aramaic-idioms-in.html.) The message of Jesus was originally proclaimed and taught in the Aramaic language all over. And due to Social and Political decisions communication both spoken and written were interspersed with Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek. To say the New Testament and gospels were entire written in Greek is NOT true, and likewise NOT in Aramaic entirely (until newer evidences can be discovered).

7. From then until today many believers of Jesus in Iraq (Mesopotamia), Iran, Syria, Turkey, and Lebanon have tried to keep the original Aramaic language alive both domestically and scholastically. Today they may not call it Aramaic but Syriac, but Syriac is just a Greek term for Aramaic. Many have become disillusion or disgust with the proliferation of Errors in Bible Translations, and there is a desire to return to the original context of the meanings of Jesus and scriptures, instead of relying on preachers or teachers who cherry pick scriptures to their whims and fancies to suit their egoistic pursuits of authority and superiority.

Jesus spoke in Aramaic

See a timeline of such human translations:

https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2021/04/timeline-of-written-translation-history.html

and why the Aramaic text and not the KJV or English text:

https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2023/08/aramaic-text-vs-kjv-text.html

8. The ability to understand Aramaic or Aramaic phrases, will greatly enhance your journey of true scripture discovery. You will be able to understand how Aramaic developed into what we have as modern languages. We can understand the rightful interpretation of the scriptural text. We can read it in its historical past events and within context and true meaning. We can determine whether what we read, heard preached or taught is genuine or forgery. We can understand many difficult passages or Semitic terms of speech which are not able to be explained in Greek or in modern languages. It will bring us back to a period of time very close to the time of Jesus and walk in that similar path. It will enable us to perceive more clearly Jesus and his teachings in the context of his own language, people and time. I hope these will inspire you as it has inspired me.

The Aramaic Language – brief history

 The Aramaic Language – brief history

1. Historically, the Aramaic Language was the common language used in the fertile region of the ancient Near East (Mesopotamia area) about the Second Millennium BCE (Before Common Era) i.e. years 2000 BCE to 1001 BCE. It was the Spoken and Written language of the Arameans, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Hebrews and Syrians.

2. The term Aramaic comes from Aram which according to Hebrew scripture, Aram was the son of Shem and grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:22). The Aramaic language is also called a Semitic (or Shemitic) language, and Shemitic comes from Shem, son of Noah (Genesis 5:32).

Assyrian and Chaldean empires

3. Aramaic language was practical, simple to write and speak, and widely used by officials, merchants and all classes of people (Jesus and all the common Israelite people speak and write Aramaic). It was the common language among different tribes and clans, and thus was used by the two great empires of Assyria and Chaldea (Babylon). Many countries including Egypt, Asia Minor, Pakistan and Persian (Iran), all used Aramaic for communication.

4. The Aramaic language evolved into major dialects, the Northern Aramaic dialect and the Southern Aramaic dialect, over a long period of time (more than 1000 years) when there were TWO Major Dispersion of the Twelve Tribes of Israel to Assyria and Chaldea.

5. According to history, the First Exile was around 721 BCE, where the Assyrians captured the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel and took them away to Nineveh, where they were eventually scattered all over Mesopotamia (Northern Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan). Then the Assyrian government repopulated Northern Israel with their own people, the Assyrians, who also spoke Aramaic, to inter-marry into the remaining Israelites that were not captured away. The descendants of these mixed marriages were known as Samaritans (See https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2021/08/who-are-samaritans.html). They speak a slightly different dialect of the original Aramaic language, derived from mixed Assyrian cultures, and local slangs.

6. The Second Exile happened around 587 BCE, when the Chaldean King Nebuchanezzar, captured the remaining Two Tribes of Southern Israel, particularly the prominent tribe of Judah, into Babylon, the capital of the Chaldean empire. The exiled Israelites assimilated Babylonian cultures, myths, and way of life easily due to similar Aramaic language, and thus we have many of the Hebrew Torah stories plagiarized from the Chaldean writings over the centuries (See: https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2021/06/are-stories-in-genesis-in-bible-taken.html). 

7. The Chaldean empire became weak after the death of King Nebuchanezzar, and the Persian (Iran) King Cyrus easily conquered Babylon around 539 BCE, and ended the Babylonian empire. Cyrus gave permission to the Israelites to return to their homeland, carrying with them the Southern Aramaic dialect and mannerism, up until the time of Jesus during the first century CE. The Southern dialect is slightly different from the Northern dialect (just like the Chinese have different dialects of Cantonese and Hakka). Knowing this, we can understand better now how the local Southern Israelites can identify Peter (who is from the north), just by listening to him talk Aramaic in the Northern dialect, when Peter denied knowing Jesus before the cock crowed (Mark 14:70). (Note: Jesus and his disciples are from Galilee, and spoke a Northern dialect of Aramaic).

8. However, after the First Century onwards Hebrew became more acceptable, and slowly became popular. Though Hebrew and Aramaic were two different languages, however they have similar grammar and vocabulary, and so both can commonly understand each other. Due to their close relations, some of the foreign Aramaic cultures and religious traditions from other nations were easily passed onto the later generation Israelites who speak Hebrew.