There’s a wonderful poem by Rainer Maria Rilke that retells the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with an angel, being defeated, but coming away stronger from the fight. It ends with an exhortation that goes something like this: “What we fight with is so small, and when we win,...
It is very important to note that this requires some knowledge of the Hebrew language and culture, as well as the biblical context and theology. One reason why the Hebrew language mentions things in the reverse order is that Hebrew follows a different logic and syntax than English and ot...
Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?” Literal TranslationsLiteral Standard VersionAnd Laban says to Jacob, “Is it because you [are] my brother that you have served me for nothing? Declare to ...
To some extent, we can learn about life in biblical times by combing the biblical text, but our ability to extract reliable data from the biblical text alone is hampered by a number of problems. First, the Bible does not always give a clear answer, either because we no longer understand...
Reading the Bible for All the Wrong Reasons In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content: 1 Introduction Paying Attention to the Way We Read Is the theory of evolution compatible with biblical faith? Are the Bible's views on same-sex relations, divorce, and the ......
Leah, a name with biblical roots, is traditionally associated with the story of Jacob's first wife in the Hebrew Bible, where it conveys themes of struggle and endurance. This name is often chosen for its historical and spiritual significance, reflecting a deep connection to faith and tradition...
Joseph’s wisdom earns him the second-highest position in the kingdom, which allows him to accommodate his father and brothers when they seek refuge from the famine. (By the way: this is the biblical story of how Israel’s ancestors came to Egypt, where their descendants were eventually ens...
The biblical story ultimately becomes a clash between God’s Kingdom and human kingdoms. God responds to this rebellion throughout the Old Testament, but the good news of Jesus is that he came to bring the Kingdom again. What does this mean for us as followers of Jesus? In the first...
from somewhere in a land of darkness;I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. 20 “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations.Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pra...
What is the main message of Jonah? The primary theme in Jonah is thatGod's compassion is boundless, not limited just to “us” but also available for “them.” This is clear from the flow of the story and its conclusion: (1) Jonah is the object of God's compassion throughout the ...