3
votes
2answers
237 views
Why does Jehoash cry “The chariots and horsemen of Israel”?
When Elisha is about to die, Jehoash the king goes to visit Elisha and cries before him:
Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him ...
3
votes
2answers
95 views
Why is Rahab and not the spies included in the “Hall of Faith”?
Hebrews 11 list a number of people that Hebrews 12:1 calls a "great a cloud of witnesses". Among them are the usual suspects: Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. But there are also some ...
3
votes
1answer
156 views
Can Ezekiel 1 be interpreted as describing a robot?
In my readings of Ezekiel chapter 1, Ezekiel comes into contact with what in our time could only be interpreted as a robot. For instance, it had wheels, four faces, was metallic, and was able to fly; ...
3
votes
2answers
231 views
How are verses indicating that God is a God of war, and others indicating that he is a God of peace reconciled to not be contradictory? [closed]
Sometimes, skeptics note that the Bible makes contradictory statements about God. For instance, is God warlike:
Exodus 15:3—The Lord is a man of war.
Psalm 18:34—He teacheth my ...
3
votes
3answers
427 views
What is Micah 5:5-6 talking about?
Matthew 2:6 quotes Micah 2:2 as a prophesy concerning Jesus:
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ...
3
votes
4answers
143 views
Should The Creation Story in Genesis Be Understood as Metaphorical?
I have been lead to understand that the creation story of Genesis should be read as metaphorical and not literal. However, there seems to be abundant evidence that the ancients understood the story ...
3
votes
2answers
102 views
Did the Jerusalem Council intend to replace the Torah?
When Paul and Barnabas when down to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles about whether Gentiles ought to be compelled to be circumcised, the final word comes from James:
Therefore my judgment is ...
3
votes
2answers
319 views
Why was the priestly exam of a woman suspected of adultery not applied to men (Numbers 5:11-31)?
In the book of Numbers, there is a very interesting test for a woman suspected of committing adultery. After some initial discussion, if the woman refuses to admit her sin, or is innocent, the priest ...
3
votes
2answers
101 views
Does reaping in Galatians 6:9 refer to salvation?
Related to: Does Galatians 6:9 contain a causality that could imply works salvation?
In the immediate context (based on verse 8), reaping in Galatians 6:9 appears to refer to salvation.
Galatians ...
3
votes
2answers
56 views
Could the usage of the word “fish” be considered evidence for a later and more figurative writing of the gospels?
Per certain church teachings, the early church used the Icthus symbol as a recognization tool for other believers. The gospels as written also feature a large amount of fish imagery.
Does this ...
3
votes
1answer
485 views
How do the books in the Bible get their names?
It seems like the first few chapters are named after the people who wrote them, but I was wondering how the other titles were decided upon.
3
votes
2answers
93 views
Genesis 23 — Why does the Bible change the spelling of Ephron's name?
In Genesis 23, we learn that Sarah has died and Abraham is looking to acquire a grave for her. He approaches the children of Heth and meets Ephron the Hittite who, initially, offers his land (which ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
God's speech in Job 38-42
For me the Book of Job is one of the most contraversial books in the Bible yet. In chapters 38-41 we see the Lord's unnecessary boasting in front of his slave. Job 41:5 is an example of a cynism:
...
3
votes
1answer
100 views
“Day of the Lord” or “Sunday” in Revelation 1:10
I have a translation of the New Testament in my hands, in which Revelation 1:10 is rendered as "I was in the Spirit on Sunday". When I looked up the same verse in some other translations, I saw "I was ...
3
votes
4answers
202 views
Was the angel of the Lord the pre-human appearance of Messiah? [closed]
I have noticed some commentators interpret the phrase "Angel of the Lord" ("מַלְאָךְ יהוה" mal'ak YHWH) in the Hebrew Scriptures to refer to a pre-human appearance of Messiah?
I am considering to ...
3
votes
2answers
226 views
Is Psalm 119 an ode to just the Torah or to something more?
Virtually every line in Psalm 119 praises some aspect of God's law. In the past, I assumed it was an ode to the Torah. But lately, I've been wondering if were in praise of something outside of the ...
3
votes
2answers
552 views
What are the possible interpretations of 1 John 2:19?
What are the possible interpretations and implications of 1 John 2:19, specifically as it relates to the doctrine of eternal security?
1 John 2:19 (NASB)
19 They went out from us, but they ...
3
votes
1answer
147 views
How Do We Know Paul's Opponents in Galatians Profess to be Followers of Jesus?
I have a question about the nature of the professed faith of Paul's opponents, which is difficult to answer because we are just seeing one side of this debate. So Paul's opponents are trying to get ...
3
votes
1answer
146 views
Is tola'at sheni a knit?
The Hebrew phrase
תוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי
appears throughout Exodus, and it usually occurs paired with "Shesh Mashzar", but I suppose someone can know the answer to one question without knowing the answer ...
3
votes
1answer
229 views
Where did Samuel come from when he was summoned by the Medium of En-dor?
Appropriate to today, I was thinking about the time when Saul visited the Medium of En-dor in 1 Samuel 28:8-14 (ESV):
So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men ...
3
votes
1answer
204 views
Translation of κοπιῶντες in Matthew 11:28
The word κοπιῶντες in Matt. 11:28 is translated differently in the NASB and the ESV:
NASB:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
ESV:
Come to me, all who ...
3
votes
4answers
83 views
Why is δεδικαίωται translated “freed” in many English versions?
Romans 6:7 invariably discusses a believer's freedom from sin in most English translations:
NET ©
(For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)
NIV ©
because anyone who has died has ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Have the “many” in Psalm 4 received blessings or were they already blessed?
Psalm 4 is a David psalm about prayer. It includes this stanza that seems to contrast the psalmist with other people:
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
What are the “stones of fire” in Ezekiel 28?
An interesting phrase occurs in Ezekiel 28:14:
You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
and again ...
3
votes
2answers
94 views
Is “Children of Israel” the only way to read Deuteronomy 32:8?
I asked a Jew and this is what she said:
As for Deut 32:8, there is not a single Hebrew text that does not say
'bnei Yisrael'. Every Jewish translation of this verse says children
[or sons] ...
3
votes
1answer
43 views
What exactly does מִכְנָס (miknac) mean?
Researching a related question, I came across passages like:
You shall also make for them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; they shall extend from the hips to the thighs.—Exodus 28:42 ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
Did Barak already know what he was supposed to do in Judges 4:6-7?
Since we're on a Deborah kick lately:
The ESV renders Deborah's statement to Barak in Judges 4:6-7 as a question:
Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, "Go, gather your
men at ...
3
votes
1answer
301 views
What happens to a Paidagogos (in Gal. 3.24) when the son grows up?
Depending on your translation, the law has been either a guardian, a nursemaid, or a teacher that is supposed to bring us to Christ. That nanny's role is to guide and protect the child, as well as ...
3
votes
2answers
465 views
Why was Zacchaeus saved according to Jesus?
In Luke 19:1-10 we read the story of Zacchaeus which ends like so:
And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
The meaning of “I” in Zechariah 7:3
Zechariah 7:2-3 (with my emphasis)
The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech, together with their men, to entreat the LORD by asking the priests of the house of the LORD Almighty ...
3
votes
1answer
29 views
For Whom has the Right and Left hand of Jesus been prepared?
Mark records the following,
10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,”
they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you
want me to do for ...
3
votes
2answers
59 views
Does John 21:20-24 indicate that the original author of the Fourth Gospel was dead?
Early tradition says that the author lived on for some time after the composition, while many post-eighteenth century critical scholars seem to take for granted that the author (if it even is the ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Were all the cananites slaughtered or not?
It seems pretty clear in some of the texts that when Land of Canaan was conquered, there were no one left alive, all were killed:
Joshua defeated the whole land, including the hill country, the ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
What do the jeers towards Elisha of “Go on up” mean?
When Elisha is jeered by youths in 2 Kings 2:23-25 he is told (as many translations have it) to "Go up" or "Go on up". The new NIV (2011) renders this as "Get out of here." Is this a fair translation ...
3
votes
3answers
90 views
How does Peter fit the events of Acts 2 into the apocalyptic imagery of Joel?
In Act 2, the disciples of Jesus were gathered in the upper room when something extraordinary occurred which caused a stir in Jerusalem. Luke gives Peter a chance to explain in the first extended ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
What is the significance of the phrase πιστὸς ὁ λόγος (“the faithful saying”) in Pauline epistles?
I was browsing the first epistle of Timotheos, and I noticed that the apostle Paulos sometimes preceded a statement by the Greek phrase πιστὸς ὁ λόγος (cp. 1 Tim. 1:15), which may be translated as ...
3
votes
4answers
179 views
What are the two bronze mountains in Zechariah 6?
I've already asked a broad question about the number two in the book of Zechariah. I've received some helpful input on that and made progress in my own thinking regarding it. However, some of the ...
3
votes
2answers
73 views
Who repents in Zechariah 1:6?
The first oracle the prophet Zechariah receives is this:
2"The Lord was very angry with your fathers. 3Therefore say to them, Thus declares Yahweh of hosts: Return to me, says Yahweh of hosts, and ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the story behind mourning for Hadad-rimmon in Zechariah 12:11?
Zechariah, like Revelation which draws on it, is a tough nut to crack but very rich. In the twelfth chapter, the prophet records the word of Yahweh that
The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem on ...
3
votes
1answer
404 views
Jewish interpretation of Daniel 7:13-14
As a Reformed Christian, a take a Christological reading of Daniel 7:13-14:
I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to ...
3
votes
1answer
185 views
“God of Heaven” in the book of Daniel
I noticed that "the God of heaven" is a common title used for God in the book of Daniel. Is this name used anywhere else in the Scriptures? Why is it used so much in the book of Daniel? (Perhaps for ...
3
votes
1answer
425 views
What is the significance of the Rose of Sharon?
Several times, I've heard the song He is Yahweh by Vineyard. The chorus goes as follows:
Creator God, He is Yahweh
The Great I Am, He is Yahweh
The Lord of All, He is Yahweh
Rose of Sharon, ...
3
votes
1answer
152 views
Is the author of Ecclesiastes referring to Archimedes?
The following passage is Ecclesiastes 9:14
A small city, and few people in it, and a great king comes there, and encircled it and built upon it great fortifications. And he found in it, a poor ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
What breed of dog was Tobiah's dog?
Does anyone have any idea what breed of dog Tobiah's dog might have been?
Referenced in Tobit 6 and Tobit 11
3
votes
1answer
221 views
What was Onan's sin?
Genesis 38:6-11 (NJPS):
Judah got a wife for Er his first-born; her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s first-born, was displeasing to the Lord, and the Lord took his life. Then Judah said to Onan, ...
3
votes
1answer
136 views
Are there intra-textual supports for a politicized reading of Revelation?
I've just read Nelson Kraybill's "Apocalypse and Allegiance" and have become fascinated by the idea of Revelation as a political manifesto concealed as apocalyptic literature in the style of Daniel.
...
3
votes
3answers
43 views
What is the meaning of “water and blood” in 1 John 5:6?
In 1 John 5:6 John uses water and blood as symbolic short hand, clearly expecting his audience to know the meaning of these two liquids.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. ...
3
votes
2answers
96 views
Is the water jar in John 4:28 a symbol?
At the end of Jesus' conversation with the woman by the well, John records
28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to
the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all ...
3
votes
2answers
171 views
What is the significance of the young man who runs away naked in Mark's gospel?
Mark alone of the four Gospels tells of a young man who fled naked when Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane. Mark 14:51 states,
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus.
...
3
votes
1answer
39 views
What is the difference between ζωὴ and ψυχὴ?
The word "life" appears in most translations of John 12:25 three times. For example, in the ESV:
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal ...
