After looking at two Hebrew, with side-by-side English, New Testaments, and my favorite, The Jewish New Testament (in English, translated from the Greek by David Stern), and a fascinating little book titled New Testament Greek To Hebrew Dictionary, the word "world" from 1 John 2:15, which is "kosmos" in the Greek, is translated to the Hebrew as "olam" (spelled right-to-left ayin-vav-lamed-mem), which is defined as meaning, "Distant - a far off place as hidden beyond the horizon. A far off time as hidden from the present; the distant past or future. A place or time that cannot be perceived." (the above Dictionary, p. 66). That is a really interesting definition, suggesting that the "world" we are not to love has an unknown depth and time, features which are not suggested by our usual concept of "world." But that unknown seems to fit with how the enemy tries to use the "world" to entice and control people. What is really out there beyond what we see, and the now of today? What can we imagine?
By Hebrew word pictures, as we discussed in the previous blog, that Hebrew word, "olam," states, " to see what establishes the authority of chaos." We know that the "authority of chaos" is what opposes and challenges God's order and peace. ("Peace" in Hebrew - the familiar "shalom" - gives the Hebrew word picture of " to destroy the authority that establishes chaos.") These Hebrew ideas and definitions expand the concept of "world" presented by Watchman Nee in Love Not The World.
4 Comments
Vonni Roth
10/19/2013 03:36:03 am
I read David Stern's complete Jewish Bible last year and enjoyed the enlightenment and further understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus. The arrangement of the Old Testament books certainly gave me a time (and still does) when I try to find something. I was and remain bothered with his use of trust instead of faith in his New Testament translations as I firmly believe they do not have the same meaning (at least to me) but I have no knowledge of Hebrew so am in no position to question or challenge his translation. His view is his and singular translations can certainly be challenged which is why I prefer to rely on a translation by more than one person. That said, I am so very thankful to F. Lagard Smith for his Chronological Bible and the blessing it was and continues to be to my life as it enabled me to get through the Old Testament and see the bigger picture.
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Harv
11/13/2013 12:34:56 am
A belated thank you for your comments. I agree with your caution about single-person translations of the Bible (for example, I really don't use The Message). But I still love the strong Jewish flavor Stern brings to his New Testament. I'm not as troubled by his use of "trust" instead of "faith", but understand your concern. That's why I continue to use multiple different translations in my Bible studies.
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MACK hUNTER
11/12/2013 09:14:19 am
I tried to learn Hebrew several years ago and noticed that It speaks in pictures. After time I came to totally agree with how God speaks in pictures. I have animals (birds and a cat) I noticed that they seem to know what I'm going to say before I say it. I speculate that God and adam spoke to the animals and each other by thinking pictures.
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Harv
11/13/2013 12:37:26 am
What great observations! I believe Hebrew is right down the pike for what you speculate. Thank you.
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