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Hebrew 101 - Studies of Judaism - Posted: 8th Dec, 2005 - 3:09am
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Post Date: 5th Dec, 2005 - 5:24pm / Post ID: #
Hebrew 101
I think to help us understand the Jewish belief we should gain a better understanding of their Language.
As I stated in a different thread I study different versions of the Bible, I was informed that the book that the Christians call Genesis is called in the Jewish Bible "Bereshit" (I hope that is spelled right). I asked a friend of mine what the meaning of it is and he said that it is a Complicated word. Then I told him that I the word Elohim is Gods, he replied to me that it isn't that simple and it is also a very complicated word.
Can someone tell me what they truly mean or is he right and they are very complicated terms?
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Post Date: 8th Dec, 2005 - 3:09am / Post ID: #
Hebrew
| QUOTE (Weisenberger @ 5-Dec 05, 12:24 PM) |
| I think to help us understand the Jewish belief we should gain a better understanding of their Language. Can someone tell me what they truly mean or is he right and they are very complicated terms? |
I think you're referring to me.
The first book of the Tanach (The Hebrew Bible) is בראשית aka B'reisheet.
Here's my view on it, which I wrote the other day:
| QUOTE |
| בראשית - The first part of the word, ב, is fairly simple. It is a Hebrew prefix meaning "in", "at", "with", etc. depending on the context. The second part of this word is ראשית which basically means "beggining" or "start" and comes from the root word ראש which means "head". Some have suggested that instead of the traditional "In/at the beggining..." it should be translated as "At the head of..." due to the root of ראשית. Some try to make the case that the first 3 letters are also a root of this word (ברא, which is the next word, and means "to create"), but that doesn't make sense to me. |
Yeah, originally I was going to try to do a much more in-depth explanation based on various writings of sages from the middle ages but my BS detector wouldn't take it and so I ditched it.
אלהים (elohiym) doesn't neccessarily refer to God. The word can refer to God, Angels, Judges, and other figures of authorities. IMO, it would be better translated as "powers" or "authorities".
For example, in Shemot/Exodus 20:7 we read:
The Lord said to Moses, "See! I have made you a lord over Pharaoh, and Aaron, your brother, will be your speaker. (Judaica Press Translation)
ויאמר יהוה אל־משה ראה נתתיך אלהים לפרעה ואהרן אחיך יהיה נביאך
The word translated as "a lord" here is Elohiym. Other translations usually translate it as "judge", and some translate it as "God". However - given the commands against worshipping figures other than God - I doubt that God was saying it was kosher for Pharoah to worship Moses
| Message Edited! Persephone: It is not necessary to quote all the words of the user above you? |
TOPIC: Hebrew 101