{"id":69676,"date":"2020-02-04T15:59:36","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T13:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=69676"},"modified":"2023-09-02T23:17:31","modified_gmt":"2023-09-02T20:17:31","slug":"earnest-devotion-not-intellectual-understanding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/earnest-devotion-not-intellectual-understanding\/","title":{"rendered":"Earnest Devotion, Not Intellectual Understanding"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[361,391,461,569],"acf":{"old_id":"69676","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":64758,"related_cahpter":"409","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"A deeper understanding of a key term","content":"

One of the amazing things about living in the State of Israel is the widespread usage of the Jewish Bible in society. One can hear phrases from Psalms broadcast on the radio, find expressions from Genesis in children\u2019s books, and read verses from Proverbs on billboards.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are times when knowing colloquial Hebrew can cause one to misunderstand the Bible. For example, in 2 Chronicles chapter 30, King Hezekiah commands <\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/i>La\u2019asot Pesach<\/span><\/em>\u201d (literally, \u201cTo make Passover\u201d). While this means that King Hezekiah called the people to come to Jerusalem and bring the Passover offering, many Israeli school children visualize the King of Israel starting a clean-your-house-before-Passover campaign which is the usage of the phrase <\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/i>La\u2019asot Pesach<\/span><\/em>\u201d in Israel today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The meaning of Hebrew words can change over time and understanding the original meaning of the Biblical Hebrew can often be crucial for a correct understanding of the Biblical message.<\/span><\/p>\n

An example of this occurs in the translation of the words <\/span>“<\/span><\/i>Haskel Vyode\u2019a oti<\/span><\/em>\u201d in verse 23. The JPS 1917 edition translates these words as “<\/span>That he understandeth, and knoweth Me,” which is similar to the meaning of the words \u201c<\/span>haskel<\/span><\/em>\u201d and <\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/i>da\u2019at<\/span><\/em>\u201d in Israel today<\/span>. However, this translation is contextually difficult, because it would mean that Jeremiah first said that one <\/span>should not<\/span><\/em> praise himself because of his wisdom (verse 22) and in the next verse says that one <\/span>should<\/em> <\/span>praise himself because of his understanding and knowledge.\u00a0 We see that the 1917 translation causes an internal contradiction in Jeremiah\u2019s prophecy regarding the value of wisdom and understanding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The New JPS translation is therefore more precise when it translates the phrase <\/span>“<\/span><\/i>Haskel Vyode\u2019a oti<\/span><\/em>\u201d as such:<\/span> \u201cIn his earnest devotion to Me.\u201d While this translation is counter-intuitive to the ears of the Modern Hebrew speaker, it conveys the Biblical meaning of the words much more accurately. In the Bible, the word \u201c<\/span>Haskel<\/span><\/em>\u201d does not just mean wisdom, but it means using wisdom for good purposes.\u00a0 As the psalmist says about the wicked man (Psalms 36:4), \u201cHis words are evil and deceitful; he will not <\/span>lhaskil lhativ<\/span><\/em>,\u201d <\/span><\/i>meaning that he will not<\/span> do good deeds<\/b>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The Bible\u2019s meaning of the word \u201c<\/span>da\u2019at<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/i> can be seen from the Bible\u2019s first usage of this word\u2019s root when describing the intimate relationship between Adam and Eve in the verse \u201c<\/span>VhaAdam yada\u2019 et Hava<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/i> (Gen. 4:1).\u00a0 We see from this example (and others) that \u201c<\/span>da\u2019at<\/span><\/em>\u201d does not describe an intellectual achievement.\u00a0 Rather, it expresses affection, connection and purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, although academic, professional and economic successes are great achievements, Jeremiah tells us that possessing a passionate commitment to performing acts of kindness, pursuing justice, and dealing righteously is the true badge of honor for the people of Israel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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