Tag: Hebrew

Adam’s Language

Posted on by jovial_cynic
If Genesis is meant to be read literally, this is a fun thought: Eber, great-grandson of Shem, son of Noah, refused to help with the Tower of Babel, so the Hebrew language didn’t get confused during God’s action on humanity’s languages. Therefore, Hebrew is the same language Adam spoke.

It doesn’t have to be true. But it’s fun!

From the Wikipedia article on the word/name “Eber:”

The 13th-century Muslim historian Abu al-Fida relates a story noting that the patriarch Eber, the great-grandson of Shem, refused to help with the building of the Tower of Babel. As a result, his language was not confused when the tower was abandoned. He and his family alone retained the original Adamic language, which he identified as Hebrew, a language named after ʿEber.

Crossing Over

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
Genesis 10:21 (NIV)

Linguistic historians note that “Eber” may be the source of the word “Hebrew.” The word means “crossing over.”

Scripturally, we link this to crossing over the Euphrates (Abraham) or the Jordan (Israel), but we also use this phrase to talk about crossing over into the afterlife.

The Hebrew

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Then a survivor came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was residing by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and they were allies with Abram.
Genesis 14:13 (NASB)

Abram is described as “the Hebrew” here in Genesis 14:13, and it’s the first time this title is used in scripture.

The Midrash suggests this may the origin story of circumcision, and that Mamre is the one who encourages Abram to do it.

Abram is going to meet the King of Salem and give him a tithe.

While there’s no linguistic link between a tithe and circumcision, they seem thematically linked. Financially, a tenth is so little, but it’s so much. Similarly, a man feels this about his foreskin. It’s nothing, but it’s so much.

Sea of Terror

Posted on by jovial_cynic
To the ancient Hebrew mind, Genesis 1:21 does not describe peaceful waters filled with whales and fish.

It is filled with sea monsters, dragons, serpents, and wriggling swarming things.

It is a place of terror.

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:23

This isn’t just assumptions about history. The word “great sea creatures” is LITERALLY the Hebrew word for “dragons, sea monsters, serpents.”