Regarding the Greek & Hebrew Languages – A Simple Overview
Nov 26, 2021 16:54:41 #
“So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
“Understanding the importance of the vehicular language used to convey God's universal truths, can, to a very small degree, be understood by contemplating the difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment:'
It is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.”
Strictly speaking, classical biblical Hebrew is a dead language. Never the less, it was Hebrew logic that the
Old Testament Scriptures were written in. It is as dead today as Akkadian, Ugaritic, Sumerian, or Koiné Greek. We are dealing with a fixed set of texts, not the Hebrew spoken in the nation of Israel today.
Koine Greek, also known as Alexandrian dialect, common Attic, Hellenistic or Biblical Greek, was the universal Greek dialect spoken from about 300 B.C. to 300 A.D. Spread in part by the conquests of Alexander the Great, Koine Greek sprung up as a common language among troops of the prolific conqueror and was spoken in the many countries they conquered, all the way from Egypt to India.
Koine Greek is the language in which the Septuagint Old Testament and the Christian New Testament were originally written as well as the language in which Christianity was spread during its early centuries until 405 A.D., when Jerome completed the Latin Vulgate - which then stood as the preeminent Bible text for centuries.
Because Koine Greek and ancient Biblical Hebrew are both dead languages, they are permanently set – they are unchanging, assuring consistency and uniformity, which is important as they are therefore excellent tools for translation purposes with set meanings; even though our English is a living language, and thus fluid – always changing; mandating a greater deliberation in translation.
Both the Hebrew and the Greek have their own particular differences which are utilized by God, and which presents God’s message to man in a diversity of style and effectiveness that complement each other.
The Hebrew (Old Testament) language displays vividness, conciseness, simplicity and denseness, and is very poetic and therefore necessitates many more English words in its translation due to its vagueness; and therefore its ability to utilize puns, and many other rhetorical devices; which add color and nuances to the language beautifully.
Whereas in comparison, the Koiné Greek language (New Testament) is beautiful, rich, and harmonious, a very specific language, technical, efficient and effective; an excellent tool for vigorous thought and religious devotion.
These are characteristics which make it an excellent language for debate, philosophy, logic, and science, due to its strength and vigor; a language of argument with a vocabulary and style that penetrate and clarify phenomena rather than simply describe verbiage.
It takes many more English words to translate a single Greek word into English, yet for a different reason than the Hebrew, because of its specificity and exactness. It is perhaps the most precise form of expression found in any language, far beyond the English, Latin, or Oriental languages. This is one of the closest to perfect languages in man’s existence, making it more than appropriate as God’s tool of communication to man.
English translation of the Hebrew ~ ~ JPS Tanakh 1917 ~~ Genesis 43:13-18
13 "Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man.
14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.”
17 "The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house.
18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.”
English translation of the Greek ~ ~ Septuagint {Brenton's] 1851 ~~ Genesis 43:13-18
13 And take your brother; and arise, go down to the man.
14 And my God give you favor in the sight of the man, and send away your other brother, and Benjamin, for I accordingly as I have been bereaved, am bereaved.
15 And the men having taken these presents, and the double money, took in their hands also Benjamin; and they rose up and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16 And Joseph saw them and his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said to the steward of his household, Bring the men into the house, and slay beasts and make ready, for the men are to eat bread with me at noon.
17 And the man did as Joseph said; and he brought the men into the house of Joseph.
18 And the men, when they perceived that they were brought into the house of Joseph, said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first; even in order to inform against us, and lay it to our charge; to take us for servants, and our asses."
Both the Hebrew and the Greek have their own particular differences which are utilized by God, and which presents God’s message to man in a diversity of style and effectiveness that complement each other.
The Hebrew (Old Testament) language displays vividness, conciseness, simplicity and denseness, and is very poetic and therefore necessitates many more English words in its translation is due to its vagueness; and therefore its ability to utilize puns, and many other rhetorical devices; which add color and nuances to the language beautifully.
Whereas in comparison, the Koiné Greek language (New Testament) is beautiful, rich, and harmonious, a very specific language, technical, efficient and effective; an excellent tool for vigorous thought and religious devotion.
These are characteristics which make it an excellent language for debate, philosophy, logic, and science, due to its strength and vigor; a language of argument with a vocabulary and style that penetrate and clarify phenomena rather than simply describe verbiage.
It takes many more English words to translate a single Greek word into English, yet for a different reason than the Hebrew, because of its specificity and exactness. It is perhaps the most precise form of expression found in any language, far beyond the English, Latin, or Oriental languages. This is one of the closest to perfect languages in man’s existence, making it more than appropriate as God’s tool of communication to man.
LXX
Concerning the precision and methodical nature of Koiné (Greek: “common“) Greek; it should be understood that the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures were translated into this “common“ (common dialect, as opposed to Attic dialect; Koiné Greek is an ancestor of modern Greek and the first supra-regional dialect in Greece, becoming the "lingua franca" (bridge language, common language, trade language), for the Eastern Mediterranean and ancient Near East throughout the Roman period due to the conquest of Alexander the Great [336 BC to 323 BC], and the common language of the known world ~ 300 BC to AD 300), Greek three centuries before the time of Christ, known as the Septuagint (meaning: “seventy,” [LXX from Roman alphabet symbolizing “70”] because seventy [72?] translators were used in its translation. It took fifteen years to complete, from 285 to 270 B.C., commissioned and paid for by Ptolemy II Philadelphus [285-245 B.C.], his father, Ptolemy I, one of four generals who divided the kingdom of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy I and his son ruled the area of Egypt). Used by Jesus Christ, Apostles and disciples as their N.T. Scripture, and by Christian Church until 402 A.D..
This is cause of any inconsistencies between our New Testament quotations of Old Testament passages, and the Old Testament passages themselves.
The two Testaments differ slightly, because the Protestant Old Testament is based upon the Hebrew Masoretic Text (completed, codified, 8th century A.D.), and Jesus, Apostles, and disciples quoted from the Greek Septuagint translation of the (Hebrew) Old Testament Scriptures, explaining the differences between the two (8th century Hebrew Jewish translators used variant Hebrew words in the Masoretic Text to distance from the Christian O.T. then in use - the Septuagint); as they denounced Christianity as an evil cult.
Possessing the Septuagint/Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament enables better understanding of O.T. Hebrew words, when laid parallel to the more specific) Greek.
So as to define the Hebrew according to the Greek; thus setting aside the vagueness that was originally introduced, and gaining the ability to cross-reference each with the other, and compare the two Testaments side by side.
Thus acquiring greater insight into both; as evidenced in the New Testament quotes from the Old Testament made more precise and clear, and the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the New Testament with greater understanding.
The God of the 0ld Testament is [b/Vague[/b]
God presented Himself as though behind a veil to the Jews (“the Hebrews“) in the Old Testament, - mysterious, invisible, and at arm’s length.
Jesus revealed God as "Specific."
Yet, in the New Testament, Jesus, in Himself, revealed God in a more personal, detailed and intimate manner, making possible the concept of having a "personal relationship" with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.“
God presents His written word in the specificity of the Greek language in the New Testament, presenting a clearer Old Testament as seen in the Septuagint (c. 280 B.C.).
Jesus Christ is the revelation of God the Father never seen before in such specificity.
The actions of God are seen in the Old Testament; in the New Testament, the personality of the person, Jesus Christ, the causality of this action becomes visible ~ adding living color to a formerly black-and-white picture!
Resources:
bereanbiblechurch.org
Christianity Today
Wildbranch Ministry
Brent L Bolin, Faith Bible Ministries
“Understanding the importance of the vehicular language used to convey God's universal truths, can, to a very small degree, be understood by contemplating the difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment:'
It is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.”
Strictly speaking, classical biblical Hebrew is a dead language. Never the less, it was Hebrew logic that the
Old Testament Scriptures were written in. It is as dead today as Akkadian, Ugaritic, Sumerian, or Koiné Greek. We are dealing with a fixed set of texts, not the Hebrew spoken in the nation of Israel today.
Koine Greek, also known as Alexandrian dialect, common Attic, Hellenistic or Biblical Greek, was the universal Greek dialect spoken from about 300 B.C. to 300 A.D. Spread in part by the conquests of Alexander the Great, Koine Greek sprung up as a common language among troops of the prolific conqueror and was spoken in the many countries they conquered, all the way from Egypt to India.
Koine Greek is the language in which the Septuagint Old Testament and the Christian New Testament were originally written as well as the language in which Christianity was spread during its early centuries until 405 A.D., when Jerome completed the Latin Vulgate - which then stood as the preeminent Bible text for centuries.
Because Koine Greek and ancient Biblical Hebrew are both dead languages, they are permanently set – they are unchanging, assuring consistency and uniformity, which is important as they are therefore excellent tools for translation purposes with set meanings; even though our English is a living language, and thus fluid – always changing; mandating a greater deliberation in translation.
Both the Hebrew and the Greek have their own particular differences which are utilized by God, and which presents God’s message to man in a diversity of style and effectiveness that complement each other.
The Hebrew (Old Testament) language displays vividness, conciseness, simplicity and denseness, and is very poetic and therefore necessitates many more English words in its translation due to its vagueness; and therefore its ability to utilize puns, and many other rhetorical devices; which add color and nuances to the language beautifully.
Whereas in comparison, the Koiné Greek language (New Testament) is beautiful, rich, and harmonious, a very specific language, technical, efficient and effective; an excellent tool for vigorous thought and religious devotion.
These are characteristics which make it an excellent language for debate, philosophy, logic, and science, due to its strength and vigor; a language of argument with a vocabulary and style that penetrate and clarify phenomena rather than simply describe verbiage.
It takes many more English words to translate a single Greek word into English, yet for a different reason than the Hebrew, because of its specificity and exactness. It is perhaps the most precise form of expression found in any language, far beyond the English, Latin, or Oriental languages. This is one of the closest to perfect languages in man’s existence, making it more than appropriate as God’s tool of communication to man.
English translation of the Hebrew ~ ~ JPS Tanakh 1917 ~~ Genesis 43:13-18
13 "Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man.
14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.”
17 "The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house.
18 And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.”
English translation of the Greek ~ ~ Septuagint {Brenton's] 1851 ~~ Genesis 43:13-18
13 And take your brother; and arise, go down to the man.
14 And my God give you favor in the sight of the man, and send away your other brother, and Benjamin, for I accordingly as I have been bereaved, am bereaved.
15 And the men having taken these presents, and the double money, took in their hands also Benjamin; and they rose up and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16 And Joseph saw them and his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said to the steward of his household, Bring the men into the house, and slay beasts and make ready, for the men are to eat bread with me at noon.
17 And the man did as Joseph said; and he brought the men into the house of Joseph.
18 And the men, when they perceived that they were brought into the house of Joseph, said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first; even in order to inform against us, and lay it to our charge; to take us for servants, and our asses."
Both the Hebrew and the Greek have their own particular differences which are utilized by God, and which presents God’s message to man in a diversity of style and effectiveness that complement each other.
The Hebrew (Old Testament) language displays vividness, conciseness, simplicity and denseness, and is very poetic and therefore necessitates many more English words in its translation is due to its vagueness; and therefore its ability to utilize puns, and many other rhetorical devices; which add color and nuances to the language beautifully.
Whereas in comparison, the Koiné Greek language (New Testament) is beautiful, rich, and harmonious, a very specific language, technical, efficient and effective; an excellent tool for vigorous thought and religious devotion.
These are characteristics which make it an excellent language for debate, philosophy, logic, and science, due to its strength and vigor; a language of argument with a vocabulary and style that penetrate and clarify phenomena rather than simply describe verbiage.
It takes many more English words to translate a single Greek word into English, yet for a different reason than the Hebrew, because of its specificity and exactness. It is perhaps the most precise form of expression found in any language, far beyond the English, Latin, or Oriental languages. This is one of the closest to perfect languages in man’s existence, making it more than appropriate as God’s tool of communication to man.
LXX
Concerning the precision and methodical nature of Koiné (Greek: “common“) Greek; it should be understood that the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures were translated into this “common“ (common dialect, as opposed to Attic dialect; Koiné Greek is an ancestor of modern Greek and the first supra-regional dialect in Greece, becoming the "lingua franca" (bridge language, common language, trade language), for the Eastern Mediterranean and ancient Near East throughout the Roman period due to the conquest of Alexander the Great [336 BC to 323 BC], and the common language of the known world ~ 300 BC to AD 300), Greek three centuries before the time of Christ, known as the Septuagint (meaning: “seventy,” [LXX from Roman alphabet symbolizing “70”] because seventy [72?] translators were used in its translation. It took fifteen years to complete, from 285 to 270 B.C., commissioned and paid for by Ptolemy II Philadelphus [285-245 B.C.], his father, Ptolemy I, one of four generals who divided the kingdom of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy I and his son ruled the area of Egypt). Used by Jesus Christ, Apostles and disciples as their N.T. Scripture, and by Christian Church until 402 A.D..
This is cause of any inconsistencies between our New Testament quotations of Old Testament passages, and the Old Testament passages themselves.
The two Testaments differ slightly, because the Protestant Old Testament is based upon the Hebrew Masoretic Text (completed, codified, 8th century A.D.), and Jesus, Apostles, and disciples quoted from the Greek Septuagint translation of the (Hebrew) Old Testament Scriptures, explaining the differences between the two (8th century Hebrew Jewish translators used variant Hebrew words in the Masoretic Text to distance from the Christian O.T. then in use - the Septuagint); as they denounced Christianity as an evil cult.
Possessing the Septuagint/Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament enables better understanding of O.T. Hebrew words, when laid parallel to the more specific) Greek.
So as to define the Hebrew according to the Greek; thus setting aside the vagueness that was originally introduced, and gaining the ability to cross-reference each with the other, and compare the two Testaments side by side.
Thus acquiring greater insight into both; as evidenced in the New Testament quotes from the Old Testament made more precise and clear, and the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the New Testament with greater understanding.
The God of the 0ld Testament is [b/Vague[/b]
God presented Himself as though behind a veil to the Jews (“the Hebrews“) in the Old Testament, - mysterious, invisible, and at arm’s length.
Jesus revealed God as "Specific."
Yet, in the New Testament, Jesus, in Himself, revealed God in a more personal, detailed and intimate manner, making possible the concept of having a "personal relationship" with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.“
God presents His written word in the specificity of the Greek language in the New Testament, presenting a clearer Old Testament as seen in the Septuagint (c. 280 B.C.).
Jesus Christ is the revelation of God the Father never seen before in such specificity.
The actions of God are seen in the Old Testament; in the New Testament, the personality of the person, Jesus Christ, the causality of this action becomes visible ~ adding living color to a formerly black-and-white picture!
Resources:
bereanbiblechurch.org
Christianity Today
Wildbranch Ministry
Brent L Bolin, Faith Bible Ministries
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