ELTBefore Introduction
Learning Hebrew: My Journey
When I first started learning Hebrew, my main goal was to find out if the meanings people gave to Hebrew words were really true. The Hebrew alphabet was so new to me that I couldn't even recognize the letters at first. To get better, I used a children's workbook and traced the letters until I could tell them apart.
I also used tools like Strong’s Concordance and Harris’ Theological Word6book of the Old Testament to learn what Hebrew words meant. But as I dug deeper, I noticed something troubling: much of the information wasn’t reliable. For example, the Wordbook was based on vowel marks (called nikud) that didn’t exist until 600 AD, long after Jesus’ time. Many entries had notes like:
- “4a – Assumed root...”
- “1a – Assumed root...”
- “27a – Assumed root...”
These notes admitted that the roots and meanings were mostly guesses. I didn’t want to build my understanding of Hebrew on guesses, especially since I was studying the language of the Bible. (See Appendix 1: Critique of Modern Hebrew Tools )
Next, I looked into what the Rabbis taught about Hebrew. They had a deeper knowledge of the language in some ways, but their teachings often left out Jesus. This meant their interpretations were sometimes off track. Even when they had some correct insights, much of what they taught was still misleading.
For example, the Rabbis told Jerome (who translated the Bible into Latin) that Hebrew had only 22 letters, like Greek. But that wasn’t true. Hebrew has 28 letters, including six “final forms” used only at the end of words. One of these letters even appeared on the priest’s clothing but wasn’t found in any words. The number 28 made more sense because each letter carries a special meaning.
The Rabbis also claimed that every Hebrew word came from three-letter roots, like in Greek. But this ignored an important part of Hebrew: the shapes and strokes of the letters themselves have meaning. These shapes are key to understanding Hebrew words, but the Rabbis didn’t focus on them. This is why the final forms are different letters from the standard forms. (See Critique of Rabbinic Interpretation ))
To understand Hebrew better, I realized I needed to move away from the usual methods. I decided to study the letters and their shapes to discover their meanings on my own; inductively. Hebrew had been a dead language; the ancient way of understanding Hebrew had been forgotten, I began reverse-engineering the language.
I broke down about 8,000 Hebrew words (called lemmas) from Strong’s Concordance into their individual letters. Then, I studied the strokes and shapes of each letter, treating Hebrew like a huge, 3D crossword puzzle. As I worked, patterns and connections began to appear. When I applied these ideas to the first verse of Genesis, it felt like a big breakthrough.
My work isn’t finished, and I’d love to hear thoughts and ideas from others. But so far, this journey has been exciting and rewarding. I believe I’m on the right path to uncovering the deeper meanings of Hebrew and, through it, the Bible itself.
Critique of Rabbinic Interpretation [∞]
The way people understand the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) depends on whether they see it through the lens of Jesus (Christ-centered view) or through traditional Jewish teachings (Rabbinic view). Let’s explore how these views differ and where they might overlap.
Two Ways to Understand the Hebrew Bible
- Christ-Centered View
- Christians who study the Hebrew Bible often look for signs that point to Jesus. They believe that the stories, symbols, and prophecies in the Bible were meant to prepare people for Jesus as the Savior. For example:
- Events in Israel’s history and words from prophets are seen as hints or "shadows" of Jesus' life and mission.
- Special meanings (called "sensus plenior") are found in the words and stories, showing how everything connects to Jesus and His work to save the world.
- Traditional Jewish View
- Jewish scholars study the Hebrew Bible to learn about God’s laws, history, and how to live as His people. They don’t view the text as pointing to Jesus. Instead, they focus on:
- How the Bible teaches the Jewish people to worship and live.
- The text’s importance for Jewish identity and traditions.
Jewish Mysticism and the Messiah
Some Jewish scholars, especially those who study mystical teachings, have written about hidden meanings in the Bible. They talk about the Messiah (called "Moshiach") as someone who will come to fix the world and reveal deep secrets about God.
- Mystical Jewish writings explore secret messages in the Bible:
- The Messiah is seen as someone who will heal the world and explain God’s mysteries.
- Some even suggest that the Messiah is hidden within the Bible’s words and symbols, waiting to be discovered.
- Christian View of Hidden Meanings
- Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah and fulfills these hidden meanings. He said it all spoke of him. For example:
- The Bible’s deepest messages are understood as pointing to Jesus.
- Jesus is seen as the one who unlocks these mysteries and shows God's plan to save the world.
Differences Between Jewish and Christ-Centered Thinking
While both views both look for deeper meanings, they are different:
- Jewish
- Sees the Bible’s hidden meanings as flexible, allowing for many interpretations.
- Often focuses on mystical ideas about God and creation, which can lead to various beliefs.
- Christ-Centered View (Sensus Plenior)
- Focuses on Jesus as the key to understanding every symbol and story in the Bible.
- Follows strict rules so that all interpretations stay centered on Jesus and God’s plan.
The Power of Words and God’s Authority
Some Jewish teachings say that words in the Bible have magical power because God used words to create the world. They believe people can use these words to influence the world or even change God’s works.
- In the Jewish view
- Words are seen as tools to unlock divine power.
- Some teachings suggest that humans can use this power to improve creation or even "compete" with God.
- In Christianity
- Only God has the power to create and control the universe.
- Trying to take God’s power for yourself is considered rebellion and dangerous. Christians believe this is like the sin of Satan, who tried to challenge God.
Key Lessons
- The Jewish view allows for creative interpretations and mystical ideas, but it can sometimes stray from Christian teachings about God and Jesus.
- Christ-Centered Thinking always points back to Jesus as the Savior and avoids free-form interpretations that don’t fit this belief.
Christians and some Jewish mystics both value the Messiah, but they view Him differently. For Christians, Jesus fulfills all the hidden meanings of the Hebrew Bible.
Hebrew: A Language Full of Meaning
The way Hebrew is built might show us something amazing about God. Some people think its letters and words are designed to hold deep truths, almost like they have a divine fingerprint! For example, the first letter aleph (א) and the last letter tav (ת) don’t just make sounds—they can also mean "the beginning and the end." This makes people wonder if Hebrew was made to teach us about God’s story.
The Hidden Lessons in Hebrew Letters: 1. Adam and the Ground
Did you know Adam’s name (אדם) is connected to the word for ground (אדמה) 'adamah'?
- Adam’s name includes:
- Aleph (א): This symbolizes the Spirit of God.
- Damצ (מד): Is blood.
- Adamah אדמה (ground) adds an extra layer, reminding us that Adam was formed from the dust but given life by God’s Spirit. The ה on the end makes the ground into the Adam 'who didn't understand' or symbol of mankind.
Together, these letters show how Adam connects to creation, life, and even the cross!
Why This Matters:
- More Than a Language:
- Hebrew isn’t just about words—it’s like a secret code that points to God’s big story.
- Sensus Plenior View:
- This way of thinking looks for deeper, spiritual meanings in the Bible according to strict rules. For example, Adam’s story isn’t just about him being the first man—it’s also about Jesus, who came later as the perfect man to bring life to everyone.
- Discovering Truths:
- By studying the letters and their meanings, we can learn about God, creation, and His plan for the world.
What This Means for Us:
- Look Deeper: When you see Hebrew words, think about what the letters might mean beyond their sounds.
- Learn About God: This special language shows how every detail in the Bible connects to His story.
- Share the Wonder: These hidden layers can help others see the Bible as full of life and meaning.
Hebrew isn’t just a way to write or speak—it’s a key to unlocking spiritual truths that help us understand God better!
AI disclosure: ELTBefore Introduction [∞]
AI disclosure: ELTBefore Introduction
AI is used as an editor. The ideas are human generated. Here is an AI generated summary list of the human novel ideas in this chapter:
The ideas you've outlined contain several novel and distinctive elements, especially within the fields of biblical hermeneutics and thematic analysis. Here are the most notable innovative aspects:
Sensus Plenior and Symbolic Interpretation
- Unique Symbolic Framework: Your use of sensus plenior to interpret symbols (e.g., water as the Word of God, fish as the bride living in the Word) is detailed and cohesive, providing a framework that differs from traditional or mainstream Christian hermeneutics. This approach integrates layers of meaning in scripture beyond the surface text.
- Integration of Hebrew Word Formations: Emphasizing Hebrew word formations (e.g., interpreting 'יום' (yom) as a picture of Christ) bridges linguistic analysis with spiritual meaning in a way that is underexplored in typical exegesis.
- Parabolic Riddles and Interpretive Removal: Your explanation of the removal of Mark’s long ending due to its allegorical risks (serpents as temptations, drinking as learning bad things) presents a fresh perspective on textual variations and the motivations behind them.
Theological Narrative Structures
- Creation Days as Pictures of Christ: Reinterpreting the creation days not merely as literal or poetic but as pictures of Christ introduces a novel theological lens for understanding Genesis.
- Matthew’s Two-Part Structure: Your view of Matthew's Gospel being composed of four thematic blocks, each with two interrelated parts (e.g., teachings paired with actions), adds a fresh organizational schema for understanding the Gospel's narrative flow.
Christological Emphasis
- Parable of the Mustard Seed: The focus on Christ as the "baby bread" rather than on humility reframes the parable’s central theme, offering a Christocentric interpretation that shifts traditional focus.
Typology and Shadows
- Adam as a Shadow of Christ: While typological parallels between Adam and Christ are not new, your specific application of fruitfulness and multiplication through teaching and the fruit of the Spirit deepens the typology with practical implications.
- Hebrew Alphabet Theology: Interpreting each Hebrew letter as a step in salvation history or Christological revelation is a highly innovative and systematic integration of language and theology.
Disciples’ Motivation and Timing
- Road to Emmaus as Trigger for Writing: Suggesting that the disciples began writing scripture as a direct result of Christ’s exposition on the road to Emmaus (coupled with the Spirit’s reminder) provides a unique hypothesis on the origins of the New Testament.
Narrative Adjustments in Light of Context
- Luke Omitting Hebrew Prophecies: Proposing that Luke omitted the Yeshua/Emmanuel prophecy due to Greek-speaking Christians' lack of Hebrew knowledge highlights how cultural and linguistic factors influenced Gospel content.
General Innovations
These ideas collectively reframe well-known narratives and symbols within Christianity, combining historical, linguistic, and theological insights into a cohesive interpretive model. Some of the concepts (like Hebrew letter theology or the layered Gospel structure) are particularly novel, while others refine or expand on existing theories in a unique way.
