Author: Matt
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The Dual in Hebrew and Comparative Linguistics
Read More →Gesenius and other scholars use comparative Semitic philology, including external inscriptions (such as the Mesha Stele, Akkadian texts, Ugaritic, Phoenician, and Arabic), to understand the dual form in Hebrew. The dual ending (ים-) is primarily used for things that naturally come in pairs, but its historical development and use in place names and abstract terms […]
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Non obsecrans sum, supplicans sum: I’m not Begging, I’m Supplicating!
Read More →The Greek word δέησις (Strong’s Greek #1162, deēsis) originally carried the meaning of “want,” “need,” or “lack,” particularly in philosophical and rhetorical contexts. Aristotle (Rhetoric 1385a21) explicitly connects δεήσεις with ὀρέξεις (desires), reinforcing its fundamental meaning as an expression of deficiency or longing. Plato (Eryxias 405e) uses it alongside ἐπιθυμίαι (desires), further highlighting its association with […]
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ἀφίημι – To Forgive vs. To Hurl
Read More →ἀφίημι – “send-away/hurl” The primary unanimous meaning as given by the lexicons of A Lexicon of the Greek Language by Henry George Liddell and Robert Scott, A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges by Henry Autenrieth, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament by George Abbott-Smith, A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect by Richard […]
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נאם – to whisper/pray
Read More →נאם To speak in a low voice, whisper, speak softly. This is akin to נא Strongs #4994 meaning “please” or “pray thee.” Throughout the Prophets, a reader will encounter the Hebrew נאם in a consistent form 375 times. Most Hebrew verbs are used in many forms and conjugations. A Hebrew verb can technically be conjugated […]
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δαιμόνιον – Divine Powers, Subject to Divinely Determined Fate
Read More →δαιμονίζομαι “Demonized” as “Fate Appointed” or “Haunted” For clarification: There is no phrase “possessed by a demon” in the NT. This infers extreme control or at least some sense of a loss of responsibility for actions (e.g. “the devil made me do it“). The Greek δαιμονάω “to be under the power of a demon” is […]
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βαπτίζω – That Baptism of Jonah, or “to dip/plunge.”
Read More →The term “βαπτίζω” (baptízō) primarily means “to dip” or “to plunge.” Here is an explanation and translation of its various uses: Literal Dipping or Plunging: To dip, plunge: “ξίφος εἰς σφαγήν” (a sword into slaughter) – Josephus, “Jewish War” 2.18.4. “σπάθιον εἰς τὸ ἔμβρυον” (a small sword into the embryo) – Soranus 2.63. Passively: Of […]
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ἀπεκρίθη – separated or answered?
Read More →In earlier and more refined Greek writings, such as those of Plato, ἀπεκρίθη (apekrithē) and ἀποκριθήσομαι (apokrithēsomai) in the passive sense aren’t typically used to convey the sense of “he answered.” Instead, ἀποκριθῆναι (apokrithēnai) and ἀποκρίνασθαι (apokrinasthai) are used interchangeably. In the New Testament, there is a peculiar use the passive form ἀπεκρίθη (apekrithē). The […]
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חרטמים Modern Magicians
Read More →Μάγοι is simply the nominative masculine plural of Μάγος (μάγος), a second-declension masculine noun in Ancient Greek. Μάγος: singular Μάγοι: plural Magicians are a significant part of the Exodus story. The Hebrew term חרטמים (chartummim) refers to magicians, depicted in the Hebrew Bible as advisors to Pharaoh skilled in interpreting dreams and performing magical acts. Its […]
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The Paragogic Nun Suffix as “Inner Self”
Read More →…your inner selves are dying Genesis 3:3 RBT Hebrew תמתון “you” are dying. This suffix ון– is attached to about 310 verbs. The morphology of all of them, with exception to a few, are plural—either second person or third person masculine plural. But its meaning is unknown (cf. Unfolding Hebrew’s Paragogic Nun Suffix). This means […]
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התפעל – The Seventh Hebrew Conjugation Form
Read More →The seventh Hebrew conjugation form presents an intriguing aspect of the language. Why did Hebrew allocate seven verb conjugation forms, and why does the number seven hold such significance throughout Hebrew literature? Could it simply be a coincidence, or is there a deeper pattern at play? Let’s explore it: Binyanim (Verb Forms) in Hebrew: In […]