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

Aramaic idioms

 

Aramaic idioms

Before I venture into some of the Aramaic idioms written in the bible, let me give some background on the meaning of idioms.

The bible is FULL of idioms. 

When the bible was translated from Aramaic => Hebrew => Greek => Latin => English => other languages of the world, many of these idioms have been wrongly translated, and misunderstood because they were not explained in its original Aramaic context and culture of the Near Eastern people. 

(That was one of the reasons why we have so many different WRONG translations and interpretations of the bible today, resulting in about 40,000 Christian denominations, each claiming to be better and more correct than the other. This is still creating mis-understanding among churches and believers.)

In one of my previous writing, I gave a personal example of how mistranslation happened:

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

Some years ago, I was under the tutelage of a Kiwi missionary in New Zealand. He told me that in one area of his mission, there was no translated version of the bible for their language, and as a result, they had to translate the New Testament for them to understand. However, these people never knew what sheep is, and how they look like or behave. So in order to make them understand, they replaced the word "sheep" with "pigs", which is their most prized possession.... hahaha..

Imagine us reading that "Jesus came for the lost pigs of Israel" in Matthew 15:24 in their bible.

Question: What are idioms?

Answer:

1. Idioms are words with a form of expression that is used specifically to a particular language, people or people groups.

2. Idioms are part of the language and dialect of those people that live in a particular culture or location of their country.

3. Idioms are not easy to understand if you do not understand the culture and the context of the language of that particular group of people.

4. Idioms cannot be translated literally into another language.

5. Idioms are expressions of speech that say one thing but actually mean something else. The meaning is totally different from the individual words forming the idiom.

6. Idioms are used commonly by the people that were living during that particular era, and can be understood easily because of their popular use. They are non-complicated normal words that have a special meaning that is known by almost everyone of their similar language culture.

7. The Near Eastern people (also the Middle Eastern people) use idioms in their  language on normal, secular and sacred usages on a daily basis.

8. The contemporary Western civilizations use less idioms in their languages, and remain quite ignorant of the Near Eastern idioms.

In view of the above, I should say that there are also idioms in all language groups in the world. Idioms have always been with us since antiquity till today. It’s a matter of more or less usage and how common these idioms are.

I am a Chinese living in Malaysia, and my father and ancestors come from China. So you can say that we are an Eastern people group. Even within our Chinese language, we have myriads of idioms that a Western English-educated person will never understand unless it is explained to him/her.

(Just a note: that among the various dialects of the Chinese people, such as the Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Hainanese, etc. there are also unique idioms that are found particularly within that dialect only.)

Examples of English Idioms

(These English idioms are commonly used, and we take it for granted that when we use them, everyone should understand what we mean. But when I translated it literally word for word and used it in another language like Indonesian or French, it may be disastrous, causing major misunderstand.)

1. Idiom: “See eye to eye”

1. This means “to agree with somebody”.

2. Example: The two friends can finally see eye to eye on their new venture.

2. Idiom: “speaking of the devil”

1. This means “the person you were referring to suddenly appears at that moment.”

2. Example: Sam, speaking of the devil, I was just telling him about the direction to your house.

3. Idiom: “Once in a blue moon”

1. This means “an event that doesn’t happen frequently.”

2. Example: Once in a blue moon, we can give ourselves an expensive treat.

4. Idiom: “cost an arm and a leg”

1. This means “something that is very expensive.”

2. Example: That car cost me an arm and a leg.

5. Idiom: “let the cat out of the bag”

1. This means “to accidentally let out a secret to others.”

2. Example: He let the cat out of the bag to his competitor about his financial plans.

6. Idiom: “to kill two birds with one stone”

1. This means “to resolve two problems at one go.”

2. Example: By eating healthily to reduce weight, he killed two birds with one stone, when his skin condition also disappeared.

7. Idiom: “beat around the bush”

1. This means: “not speaking directly about the issue or main topic.”

2. Example: He told his employee to stop beating around the bush and quickly say what is on his mind.

Examples of Cantonese (dialect of Chinese language) idioms

1. Idiom: “pulling a cow up a tree” or “laai ngau soeng syu”

1. This means: “having a vain attempt at a difficult task”

2. Example: Getting his son to fold his blanket in the morning is like “laai ngau soeng syu”.

2. Idiom: “pretend to be a ghost and pretend to be a horse” or “baan gwai baan maa”

1. This means: “to deliberately trick or deceive somebody”

2. Example: He dressed up as a girl to deliberately “baan gwai baan maa” to the headmistress.

3. Idiom: “eat a dead cat” or “sik sei maau”

1. This means: “becoming a scapegoat or tricked into taking the blame for something not their fault”

2. Example: His mother was very angry at him for dirtying the floor but actually he was “sik sei maau” for his sister.

4. Idiom: “greedy devil” or “waai sik gwai”

1. This means: “being a glutton”

2. Example: He rushed for the food like a “waai sik gwai”.

5. Idiom: “to throw a paper aeroplane” or “fong fei gei”

1. This means: “to break a promise, a commitment, or fail to turn up for an appointment”

2. Example: He really “fong fei gei” and didn’t even call when he missed our date.

6. Idiom: “a two headed snake” or “leuhng tauh seh”

1. This means: “a person who betrays and works for both sides in a deal”

2. Example: Don’t believe everything he said because he is a “leuhng tauh seh”.

7. Idiom: ” to eat slippers rice” or “sihk to haai faahn”

1. This means: “a man who is dependent on a woman for support”

2. Example: He lazes around the house everyday since he is good at “sihk to haai faahn”.

I believe that you can understand more about idioms now, and as we proceed to understand Aramaic idioms in the bible, you may do one or more of the following:

1. Label me as teaching false doctrine,

2. Refuse to accept the truth because of your personal opaque excuses,

3. Appreciate that the bible was written in an Aramaic context, within their language and culture, and the use of Aramaic idioms was very common within their common period.

There are literally more than a thousand Aramaic idioms in the bible and readers have mistakenly understood these idioms “literally”. Some translators have done a great job translating them accurately word for word but by taking them literally, the actual meanings have been interpreted wrongly.

I will address some of these idioms in future writings.

Extra:

1. How to interpret the bible by Charles Meek

https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2020/05/how-to-interpret-bible.html

Aramaic: Did God FORSAKE Jesus at the cross?

 

Aramaic: Did God FORSAKE Jesus at the cross?

Have you ever thought about this, that the God who is the source of abundant mercies, could FORSAKE Jesus when he was on the cross?

Didn't Jesus obeyed the Father's will by accepting the coming crucifixion as in Matthew 26:39?

Mat 26:39  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 

My 1st question: Jesus was at the cross, and that was His most difficult time for His earthly life, and would God hold back His comfort and His presence, just when Jesus needed it the most? (Many believers also asked this question when they are going through times of difficulties).

My 2nd question: Is God setting a bad example to other parents? What kind of loving father would abandon his son or daughter, their own flesh and blood, just at the moment of great suffering?


But many are shocked when they read Matthew 27:46 KJV,

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 


What Say You

Some say, Oh, you have to accept that by "faith" without questioning.

Is that how you are supposed to understand the bible?

Are you supposed to park your brains outside and be mindless and un-knowledgeable about difficult or seemingly contradictory bible passages?

NO, of course not. God will neither give you eyes and ask you not to use them, nor give you brains and put it away.

The Real Question is: "WAS JESUS FORSAKEN"?


Important: This phrase: "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" is an original native Aramaic language that Jesus uttered. 

(For those of you who needs to know, that the Aramaic writing is not in alphabets a,b,c, d etc. The gospel writers are using phonetics / 
sounds to mimic the original Aramaic pronunciations. 

So some translations show "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani" or "Eli! Eli! L’mah sh’vaktani" or "Eli, Eli, lemah sabachthani!" or "Iyl! Iyl! Lamana Shabaqthani" or "'el, ’el, l’mana shwaqthani", to try to retain the cry of Jesus in His native language.)

The bible verse was translated from the original ARAMAIC => HEBREW => GREEK => LATIN => OLD/NEW ENGLISH => other languages of the modern world. 

In the process of translations, the meanings, intentions and context of the words are ALWAYS altered knowingly or unknowingly by the translators, so it is always wise and right to go back to the original that is Aramaic. (This applies to all the bible writings besides Mat 27:46).



Is It a Question or Declaration?

I want you to understand that the KJV version of Mat 27:46 presents Jesus' utterance as a "question". It reads as if Jesus was questioning 
God, Why? Why?, as if Jesus did not understand what was happening to him at that moment.

However, in the original Aramaic language, it is NOT a "question" BUT a "declaration".

Tanslation of the Aramaic into English puts it like this:

“’el, ’el, l’mana shwaqthani: O God! O God! To what [a purpose] You have kept me!”

or according to Lamsa traslation:

Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, Eli, Eli, lmana shabachthani! which means, My God, my God, for this I was kept!

Dr. Lamsa adds a footnote to the last part of Jesus’ exclamation and retranslates it as “for this was my destiny!”



IMPORTANT: This takes on a whole DIFFERENT Meaning:

That means Jesus made a crying declaration that He knows that the crucifixion was the very reason for Him to live and to die. 

Isn't this consistent with the rest of the gospel writings, where Jesus already knew that He is to be crucified soon. This was the very purpose that Jesus came physically, to die crucified. He knew His purpose, and He kept to His mission. He even rebuked those who objected to His purpose and mission. Jesus was very focused on the crucifixion at the cross.

A Victorious Cry and not a Forsaken Cry

Jesus Cry was a Victorious Cry and not a Forsaken Cry. God did NOT Forsake or abandon Jesus on the cross.

Another translation from Aramaic to English puts it like this: (Rocco Errico's translation). (Rocco Errico is still living today as a foremost 
authority on bible from Aramaic to modern literal English).

 “O Sustainer! O Sustainer! To what [a purpose] You have left me!”

Rocco's note: The word “left” in this context does not mean “forsaken or abandoned.” It means “remaining to fulfill an end or a destiny.”


[In gospel of Mark 15:34, it records the same utterance. However the writer uses the East Aramaic dialect for God, alaha, and not ’el.]


An Ancient Commentary

Look at An Ancient Commentary dated 850 AD written on an ancient scroll and entirely in the Aramaic language entitled:

“The Testimony [or Evidence] from the Book of Commentaries of Lord Ishodad of Merv, Bishop of Hadatha, Beth Naharain [Mesoptamia] 
850 C.E., Bishop of the Church of the East.”

This was a hand-written commentary explaining Jesus' words spoken when he was on the cross. The translation from Aramaic to English is 
by Rocco Errico. Errico added that "The English rendering appears clumsy because I want to retain the thrust and intent of the writer. As much as possible, I give a word-for-word translation, retaining its original style of punctuation."

Errico's translation of the writings of Ishodad is as follows:

[ ...The explanation of ’el, ’el, l’mana shwaktani: Not at all was he forsaken by the Godhead. Not even during suffering nor during death 
because the Godhead was always with him - in suffering and on the cross and in death and in the grave;

And very God Himself raised him in power and in glory as in the psalm of David: For You have not left my soul in sheol: And neither have You allowed Your holy one to see corruption...]


Note: Jesus was not at all forsaken by God. God was always with Jesus in suffering, on the cross, in death and in the grave.


That is the Truth:

God did not Forsake Jesus on the cross and God never forsakes anyone at anytime, never in the past, and never in the future. His Truth, His Power and His Presence is forever with us.