<b>Biblical Hebrew Insights </b> by eTeacherBiblical.com http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/ Biblical Hebrew Insights by eTeacherBiblical.com EN March 28, 2024 Adam, Isaac, Jesus & Hebrew http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_iibs_biblical_hebrew_adam_adama-en?pid=5301 ]]>You are probably aware that the name of the first man was Adam. But do you know why? According to Genesis 2:7, God “formed man from the dust of the ground”. This is actually a pun. The word for man (Adam) comes from the word for ground (adamah). Now, let's take the story of the birth of Isaac November 5, 2017 Adam, Isaac, Jesus & Hebrew http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_understand_the_bible-en?pid=4036 ]]>You are probably aware that the name of the first man was Adam. But do you know why? According to Genesis 2:7, God “formed man from the dust of the ground”. This is actually a pun. The word for man (Adam) comes from the word for ground (adamah). Now, let's take the story of the birth of Isaac. You might recall that Sarah chuckles when God promises that she will bear a son at the age of 90. But did you know that the original Hebrew name of this miraculous child (Yitzhak) is directly related to her “laughter” (tzhok)? Finally, let's have a look at the birth of the baby Jesus. His original name was not actually Jesus. Originally, he was called Yeshua which means “God saves.” This explains why the angel told Joseph: “You are to name him Jesus (Yeshua) for he will save (Yoshiah) his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). November 5, 2017 Discovering the Hebrew Bible http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_implement-en?pid=1750 ]]>In this course, you will be able to apply what you have been learning in your Biblical Hebrew Course! Most of the time will be spent engaging in interpretation of the sacred texts based on the insights from Biblical Hebrew. This fascinating interpretive journey through the familiar stories will yield a magnificent spiritual treasure that will enrich your life. Together we will discover on a different, much deeper level the enduring value and significance of the Hebrew Bible for both Christians and Jews alike. Together we will unearth fascinating nuggets of meaning that are not seen in translation, requiring of the reader a significant set of interpretive skills and an in-depth knowledge of Jewish culture and history. October 17, 2017 Discovering the Hebrew Bible http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_implement_c-en?pid=1763 ]]>This is a very different from Biblical Hebrew Grammar course. This time we will spend most time in class, engaging in interpretation of the ancient Hebrew texts. This fascinating interpretive journey through the familiar stories will yield a magnificent spiritual treasure that will enrich your life. Together we will discover on a different, much deeper level the enduring value and significance of the Hebrew Bible for both Christians and Jews alike. Together we will unearth fascinating nuggets of meaning that are not seen in translation, requiring of the reader a significant set of interpretive skills and an in-depth knowledge of Jewish culture and history. October 17, 2017 Discovering the Hebrew Bible http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_characters-en?pid=2023 ]]>This course is an amazing experience. It is so much different than a Biblical Hebrew Grammar course. This fascinating interpretive journey through the familiar stories will yield a magnificent spiritual treasure that will enrich your life. Together we will unearth fascinating nuggets of meaning that are not seen in translation, requiring of the reader a significant set of interpretive skills and an in-depth knowledge of Jewish culture and history. October 17, 2017 How Adam Got His Name? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_adam_adamah-en?pid=2255 ]]>The word אָדָם (pronounced: adam) is connected with the two other Hebrew words דַּם (dam) “blood” and אֲדָמָה (adamah) “earth/ground”. These words show us that the basic meaning of Adam was associated with both “blood” and “ground”. We can understand the simplicity of the meaning here only if we read the text in Hebrew. It matches almost perfectly with the statement that the “Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7) and the prohibition to eat any meat with blood still in it, because the soul of any living being is in its blood. (Genesis 9:4). October 17, 2017 The Alphabet of Confession http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_selihot-en?pid=1393 ]]>During the month of Elul, Jews wake up before dawn to recite special prayers called Selichot. The word Selichot means “confessions”. We express our regret for committing all varieties of misdeeds over the last year. Often this is tough work; it is not always easy to remember everything that one has done wrong over the last 365 days. Luckily, lists of sins and transgressions have been written down to help jog our memory. Conveniently, these lists are organized alphabetically from A-Z, according to the order of the Hebrew letters: aleph, bet, gimmel, and so on. September 4, 2017 LET US PRAISE (HALLELU) GOD (YA)! http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_realization-en?pid=2140 ]]>Are you thirsty for real Biblical knowledge? Do you want to join the thousands of students who study the Bible and feel the same sense of a reinvigorated Biblical understanding? July 18, 2017 The Hebrew Origin of Modern Names http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_hebrew_origin-en?pid=3369 ]]>Interestingly, many modern names originated from the Bible, angel names among them. These names have fascinating meanings in Hebrew. The only two angels mentioned in the Bible are Michael (מיכאל), which literally translates to “Who is like God”, and Gabriel (גבריאל) - “God is my strength.” The book that mentions these angels is the Book of Daniel (דניאל), which means “God is my judge.” So what do all these names, as well as hundreds of other Biblical names, have in common? July 13, 2017 The four names of Passover http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hw_passover_names_split-en?pid=135 ]]>Learn more about the story of Exodus and the holiday of Passover. Did you know that Passover has in fact three more names? Each has a different story and reason! July 13, 2017 THE IDEA BEHIND GEMATRIA http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_gematria_new-en?pid=3717 ]]>The idea behind Gematria is that numerical equivalence is not coincidental. Jewish mystics teach that the Hebrew language was created by God Himself. Since the world was created with the Hebrew letters of the language, each letter represents a different creative force. Therefore, their suggestion that Gematria has ability to connect seemingly unrelated topics is at least intriguing. July 13, 2017 Who is Satan? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_satan-en?pid=3919 ]]>Satan appears as a heavenly being in the Hebrew Bible on at least three occasions. He incites David to conduct a census of Israel in 1Chronicles 21:1. Then again, in Job chapters 1-3 he appears as one of God’s messengers who stands accusing Job before the Lord and inflicts destruction upon his family, his property, and his personal health. And finally, in Zechariah 3:1-2, he stands to accuse the high priest Joshua July 13, 2017 The Hidden Meaning of "Shalom" http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_shalom2-en?pid=5255 ]]>Three Hebrew root letters, Shin-Lamed-Mem (ש.ל.מ), express the basic meaning of the Hebrew word SHALOM. We use “shalom” in Hebrew to say “Hi” and also “Goodbye”, but actually what we do is use an ancient Biblical Hebrew expression. July 13, 2017 The Biblical King of the Jungle http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_brand_change2-en?pid=5154 ]]>The worldwide community of Bible followers – Jews and Christians alike – see themselves as descended from the sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel. Among these twelve sons, the most significant is certainly the fourth in line: Judah. He was not the oldest of the sons, but he was the most influential. His descendants founded the capital of their Kingdom of Judah in a small hilltop city called Jerusalem. July 13, 2017 The Biblical Fashion http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_garment-en?pid=4045 ]]>Almost all ancient Israelites wore two basic items of clothing: an undergarment and an overgarment. The light bottom layer was a tunic known in Hebrew as a kutonet (כתנת). The Bible says that Jacob raised the ire of his sons by making Joseph a kutonet pasim (Gen. 37:3). Four hundred years ago, the King James Version of the Bible translated this as “a coat of many colors,”, but really, it is quite a bad translation of the original Hebrew. The garment is not a coat, but a linen tunic. It is striped, not multicolored. July 13, 2017 Leviathan: The meaning http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_leviathan-en?pid=4185 ]]>When we hear the word Leviathan, we imagine a frightening dragon or perhaps a primordial sea beast. In the Bible, Leviathan is a powerful sea monster, the largest animal on earth that shall be destroyed in an apocalyptic battle at the End of Days. Although we tend to think of Leviathan as a whale, this is not possible since there are no whales in the sea off the coast of the Land of Israel. July 13, 2017 The Meaning of the Jordan River http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_jordan_river-en?pid=2987 ]]>The name Jordan in Hebrew is Yarden (ירדן) comes from the root y-r-d (ירד), which means “to descend”. This is a reference to the steeply descending river from the mountainous Golan Heights to the lowest point on earth: the Dead Sea. But in addition to this physical meaning, there is a far deeper metaphysical meaning present as well. May 14, 2017 The song of the Last Supper http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_iibs_biblical_hebrew_last_supper-en?pid=5421 ]]>So what happened at the end of the Last Supper? The Gospels tell us “when they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26). The word hymn is a translation of the Hebrew word Hallel (הַלֵּל), a reference to the psalms of praise (113-118), which are sung on Passover eve as part of the Seder feast. Jesus must have been fond of these psalms whose central message is deliverance. April 19, 2017 What Lies behind the Flies? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_iibs_biblical_hebrew_arov-en?pid=5335 ]]>The “flies” in Exodus derives from the root ערב (arav). Essentially, it conveys the idea of a swarm or a mixture of something, but does not specify the exact nature of the swarm. The noun עֵרֶב (erev), also from the root, in Exod 12:38 simply describes a mixed group of people. Additionally, Lev 13:49 recalls the notion of a mixture, where עֵרֶב reflects the combining of threads to make cloth. April 18, 2017 The Hebrew word that means obeying divine directives http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_iibs_biblical_hebrew_hinneni1-en?pid=5235 ]]>The Hebrew interjection הִנֵּה (hinneh) functions like a literary finger, pointing or bringing attention to a person, thing or situation. Usually, it is translated as “behold” or “look”. In Ex. 4:14, for example, God brings Moses’ attention to the fact that Aaron was coming to meet him. The word הִנֵּה points to the fact that Aaron is coming. Other nuances are also possible. April 18, 2017 The Hidden Meaning of "Shalom" http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_iibs_biblical_hebrew_shalom3-en?pid=5256 ]]>Three Hebrew root letters, Shin-Lamed-Mem (ש.ל.מ), express the basic meaning of the Hebrew word SHALOM. We use “shalom” in Hebrew to say “Hi” and also “Goodbye”, but actually what we do is use an ancient Biblical Hebrew expression. April 18, 2017 The salvation of Abraham http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_iibs_biblical_hebrew_lofty_father-en?pid=5436 ]]>n Genesis 15 God promises Abram to reward him. Abram replies to God that he is "ערירי", "Ariri". The word "Ariri" means childless or abandoned. Abram repeats this complaint twice: The third verse merely reiterates the second, with the same resentful, almost angry attitude: "You have given me no offspring"! April 17, 2017 Do You Know The Word Of God? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_word_of_god-en?pid=2505 ]]>The Bible is much more than just a written text. It is filled with hidden meanings that are revealed only by a true exploration of the Bible’s original language. Translations are always tricky but when it comes to the Bible, the loss is simply tremendous! In order to get to the heart of the Bible, we have to read through the words. Do you know how to read through a word? April 17, 2017 The Lamb of God http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_iibs_jbnt_the_lamb-en?pid=5410 ]]>We don't find the word "lamb" in the epistles of Paul, the earliest NT writings. Throughout the gospels, it occurs only once—in the Gospel of John—in the account of Jesus' baptism, where the "beloved Son" of the synoptic Gospels is replaced by the "Lamb of God": “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). What could John have possibly meant when he said that? April 16, 2017 Who was Elijah? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_hl_elijah-en?pid=4216 ]]>Elijah lived in the Kingdom of Israel 3000 years ago. The king at the time, Ahab, tried hard to eliminate the worship of the one God by promoting the pagan cult of Baal. Singlehandedly, Elijah rejected this idolatry and won. How did he do it? The secret to his success is found in his name. The name Elijah is composed of two Hebrew words: Eli (“my God”) and Jah (“the Lord”). April 3, 2017 The Heart of the Bible http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_grace-en?pid=1791 ]]>One of the most important terms in the Bible is grace. There is no more central concept to the life of a Christian than grace. We do not deserve grace, but we cannot live without it. Our flaws are erased, our hearts are softened only by means of the grace of God. What is the original Hebrew way of expressing this? March 5, 2017 What is paradise? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_paradise-en?pid=3610 ]]>In the final book of the New Testament, we find heaven described as a place where the righteous “eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7). What exactly is meant by paradise? It is not a region of fluffy clouds; but rather, a lush garden full of well-watered trees. How can we know that? March 5, 2017 Give the Gift of Knowledge http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_giving-en?pid=1949 ]]>The apostle Paul famously wrote: “each of you much give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). What does it mean to be a “cheerful giver”? The Greek word for “cheerful” is ἱλαρός (hilaros), from which we get the English word hilarious. March 5, 2017 What does it Mean to Choose Life? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_choices-en?pid=2019 ]]>As the Children of Israel wait to cross into the Promised Land, Moses leaves them with the following simple instruction: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deut 30:19). So easy, right? Staying alive is one of the most basic human instincts, so what’s the big deal? March 5, 2017 Bible Study Fit for the 21st Century http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_21st_century_bible_studie-en?pid=2231 ]]>Have you ever wanted to learn Hebrew, the original language of the Bible? To discover the hidden meanings that were lost in translation? Now you can learn Biblical Hebrew with the best teachers in the field, all waiting for you in Jerusalem. Today you can do it without leaving the comfort of your own home! March 5, 2017 The Name of an Angel http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_angel_names-en?pid=2851 ]]>Surprisingly, the Hebrew Bible only contains the names of two angels. They are Michael and Gabriel. These names have interesting meanings in Hebrew. Michael (מיכאל) means “Who is like God” and Gabriel (גבריאל) means “God is my strength.” The book which mentions these angels is the Book of Daniel (דניאל) which means “God is my judge.” What do all these names, as well as hundreds of other Biblical names, have in common? March 5, 2017 Read the Languages of Jesus http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_language_jesus-en?pid=1917 ]]>Jesus and his apostles were able to read Hebrew with ease, since it was routinely used in a synagogal setting for both the reading of the Torah and prayer. But this is not all. There is very solid evidence that now shows that Hebrew was also spoken in Jesus’ day. For example, we now know that people wrote letters and commentaries in Hebrew, which presupposes that they and their readers were able communicate with each other in it. March 5, 2017 The Code is in the Hebrew Letters http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_gematria-en?pid=2213 ]]>The idea behind Gematria is that numerical equivalence is not coincidental. Jewish mystics teach that the Hebrew language was created by God Himself. Since the world was created with the Hebrew letters of the language, each letter represents a different creative force. Therefore, their suggestion that Gematria has ability to connect seemingly unrelated topics is at least intriguing. March 2, 2017 AMEN: An Extraordinary Word http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_amen-en?pid=2743 ]]>Amen is the Bible’s supreme expression of assent. By saying amen, we mean much more than simple agreement. It is a remarkable word because it allows us to succinctly articulate “Praise the Lord” and “I agree”. For example, Jeremiah agrees with the words of Hananiah, a fellow prophet, by saying: “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied” (Jer. 28:6 December 28, 2016 Where did Isaac Disappear? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_isaac-en?pid=2675 ]]>This question has triggered numerous discourses and speculations – where did Isaac go after the sacrifice? The Scriptures inform us only about Abraham's return. But Isaac vanishes and does not reappear until Genesis 24, right before his meeting with Rebekah December 7, 2016 Who was Elijah? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_et_biblical_hebrew_elijah-en?pid=4202 ]]>Satan appears as a heavenly being in the Hebrew Bible on at least three occasions. He incites David to conduct a census of Israel in 1Chronicles 21:1. Then again, in Job chapters 1-3 he appears as one of God’s messengers who stands accusing Job before the Lord and inflicts destruction upon his family, his property, and his personal health. And finally, in Zechariah 3:1-2, he stands to accuse the high priest Joshua. December 5, 2016 The Ancient Torah Scroll Deciphered http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_ancient_scroll-en?pid=1370 ]]>Recently archaeologists in Israel were able to decipher a fragment of an ancient Torah scroll which is now the second oldest Biblical manuscript in existence. The newly deciphered scroll comes from the 6th century synagogue at Ein Gedi, a desert oasis located on the shores of the Dead Sea. It is mentioned in the Bible as the site where David famously spared King Saul's life as well as in the Song of Songs. The ancient Jewish community of Ein Gedi invested large sums to build a magnificent synagogue which contained several Torah scrolls all of which were destroyed in a fire in the 6th century. All that remains today of these scrolls are small charred nuggets of parchment. November 30, 2016 The Alphabet of the Bible http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_havruta_first-en?pid=1636 ]]>The name of this week’s portion - the first in the whole Torah - is Braysheet בראשית. Unlike the English name of the book, Genesis, which simply means “creation”, the Hebrew name Braysheet means “in the beginning”. The core of the word Braysheet is the word rosh ראש which means “head”. This is a fitting name because we literally begin the Biblical narrative “at the head” of the story. November 21, 2016 How Is a Torah Written? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_sofer_stam-en?pid=1592 ]]>Throughout the Gospels, Jesus addresses the “scribes and Pharisees” very frequently. These are two titles associated with the Jewish rabbinic class in the first century. Essentially, they are two sides of the same coin. The Pharisees were involved in orally teaching the people, whereas the scribes were involved with writing sacred texts. Although Pharisees no longer exist today, there are still are scribes. To this day, in synagogues around the word, Jews read the Torah from a handwritten parchment scroll. The process of writing a Torah scroll is a long, painstaking process that is still done by hand, just as in ancient times. Each Torah scroll contains over 300,000 letters which must be meticulously copied down by a scribe so that no errors are made. October 31, 2016 The Meaning of Leadership - Biblical Vs. Modern http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_fb_leadership-en?pid=3504 ]]>LEADERSHIP IN BIBLICAL TIMES VS. MODERN TIMES Elections in the US are right around the corner, and it makes us wonder: what is the connection between leadership in Biblical times and modern times? We invite you to embark on a journey with us to learn about the link between leaders of the different periods and the significance of understanding what the leaders meant in their own spoken words in Hebrew. Think about Moses or Trump as a public speaker and Deborah or Hillary as a female leader. Do you think there’s a link between the leaders? October 26, 2016 Moses and leadership http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_moses_speech-en?pid=3517 ]]>Moses was not a natural man of words. In fact, he had a speech impediment. At the very beginning of the Book of Exodus, Moses tries to extricate himself from God’s call by claiming “…but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10). This has often been interpreted to mean that Moses stuttered. However, in his distinctively quiet manner, Moses was a tremendously powerful speaker. October 26, 2016 The Water of Life http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_wells_of_abraham-en?pid=3553 ]]>The water that Isaac found in the wells of Abraham is called Mayim Hayim. Surprisingly, the Hebrew words for “running water” here are Living water (מים חיים – Mayim Hayim; Water of life). September 5, 2016 IN THE NAME OF GOD http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_yhwh_2016-en?pid=3433 ]]>God first answered: “אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה”. This phrase אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה can be either translated as “I am (אֶהְיֶה) that who/what (אֲשֶׁר) I am (אֶהְיֶה)” or “I will be (אֶהְיֶה) who/what I will be (אֶהְיֶה)”. But after this God added one more instruction. He said to Moses: tell them “YHWH (יְהוָה), the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations”. THE NAME THAT CAN'T BE PRONOUNCED No one doubts that YHWH (יְהוָה) is the Covenantal Name of Israel’s God. However, it is not known how to pronounce this Great Name of God, since the Ancient Hebrew did not use vowels, but only consonants (vowels as you see in the Hebrew texts used here were invented much later). There is also another reason as to why most Jews believe that people ought to greatly revere, but not pronounce this great name. The reason is simple: It is too holy and can be easily taken in vain. August 30, 2016 Moriah-Connecting Heaven and Earth http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_temple_mount-en?pid=1684 ]]>The Temple Mount is a small hill in the Old City of Jerusalem that once contained the First and Second Temples, both of which have been destroyed for over two millennia. There is a tremendous amount of information in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament about these two Temples. But what is the first biblical mention of the site? August 24, 2016 How did Paul Become Christian? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_christian_paul-en?pid=3378 ]]>There is a traditional Christian view of Paul's conversion from Judaism: once upon a time there lived a good, zealous, but misguided Jew who met Jesus on the road to Damascus and suddenly became enlightened. Resolutely, casting aside Israel and the Torah, he changed his clothes and became an exemplary Christian. However, this view cannot stand up to historical criticism. August 21, 2016 Find the Bible’s Treasures http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_treasure_map-en?pid=3402 ]]>How to get to the treasure? There is probably no other book in the world that has been so argued about and as interpreted as the ancient Hebrew Bible. Why? Because it is complex. The complexity of the Bible hides within it wisdom that values much more than gold, characters we meet throughout over lives, and the secret ways of this world. However, in order to get to the generous treasure, we must have a map. And we must know how to read it. Our map to the Bible is its original language. Biblical Hebrew is in fact the key to the treasure chest. Once you learn it, you start to decipher names, places, events and even God's commands. August 21, 2016 Summer Love in the Bible http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_tu_bav-en?pid=1352 ]]>The rejoicing of Tu B’Av marks the second half of the hot summer season. This is the formal beginning of the grape harvest, which was one of the most important crops in the biblical Land of Israel. It is not surprising that the Jewish calendar connects the summer grape harvest with love. Young laborers working in the heat of the sun must have found the smells and shade of the vineyard very romantic. August 17, 2016 The Skin of Light http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_skin_of_light-en?pid=3055 ]]>The Hebrew word for "skin" is "OR" (עוֹר): spelled "ayin-vav-resh". The Hebrew word for "light" is also "OR" אור)) but spelled “aleph-vav-resh”. Originally, God clothed Adam and his wife in garments made of celestial light. Why did they lose them? August 15, 2016 Preparing for a Battle of Biblical Proportions http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_biblical_warriors-en?pid=2249 ]]>In the days of the Bible, before a warrior went into battle he would put on his helmet, don his breastplate and take up his sword. But he would also do something odd known as “girding up the loins”. For example, the Lord twice commands Job “gird up your loins like a man” (Job 38:3, 40:7). In modern English we use this phrase to mean “be strong” but what did it originally refer to? August 7, 2016 YOUR NEXT STEP INTO ANCIENT GREEK - Master the original language of the New Testament http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_greek_b_returns-en?pid=2692 ]]>STEP FORWARD WITH ORIGIN GREEK The Bibilical Greek program focuses on reading the New Testament in its original language and the Hebrew Bible in its Greek translation - the Septuagint. In Course A, we have illustrated grammatical topics and vocabulary by original verses, adding to the Gospel texts examples from the Epistles of Paul and from Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian living in the same period, the First Century CE. July 18, 2016 The Passover Lamb http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_entrance_to_jerusalem-en?pid=2624 ]]>A LAMB IS BEING PREPARED FOR SACRIFICE In the beginning of Exodus 12, God instructed the Israelites to pick and literally isolate the lamb that was to be slain four days before its actual sacrifice: "On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb… Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month." July 11, 2016 Hidden Messiahship http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_samaritan_woman-en?pid=2728 ]]>When Jesus asked Peter, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered ‘The Christ [Messiah] of God.’ (Luke 9:20-21) Jesus didn’t refer to Himself as the “Messiah” during His entire earthly ministry. He called himself "Son of Man". Moreover, He forbade others to speak of His Messiahship. Why? According to the Jewish tradition, the Messiah would first be unrecognized, and only later would he be revealed to those who had not recognized him. July 11, 2016 Love your neighbor as yourself - Learn the Jewish Background of the New Testament http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_love_your_neighbor-en?pid=2789 ]]>In Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount, He says: “Be perfect for your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). In that same drash (interpretation of the Bible), Jesus commands to love our enemies. He insists on the idea that just as we love our friends and fellow-believers, we should love our enemies as well (Luke 10:25-37). But why is this question being debated at all? And what does it have to do with the Torah portion that was probably read that same Shabbat? July 11, 2016 Is He the God of Israel Only? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_shema_israel-en?pid=2884 ]]>Does the Bible say that God belongs to the Nation of Israel? What about the other nations of the world? In Paul's letter to Christ-followers in Rome, he explains “…Yes, of the Nations also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is One.” July 11, 2016 Son of Man http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_son_of_man-en?pid=2931 ]]>Although the majority of Christians today believe that the title Son of Man reflects the human nature of Jesus, in fact the opposite is true. 'Son of Man' and 'Messiah' were two separate strands of 'messianic' hope in the world of the Jews of the first century CE. The Messiah represented a 'this-worldly', national and political redeemer while 'Son of Man' characterized a transcendental, eternal and universal savior. July 11, 2016 The Link to the Holy Temple http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_tisha_beav-en?pid=1315 ]]>On the morning of the 9th of Av in the year 70 CE Roman soldiers, seemingly without the command of their superior, set fire to the Jerusalem Temple and changed the course of Judaism forever. The Temple was never rebuilt, and over the next centuries Jews would mostly reshape their religion into the Rabbinic Judaism that is practiced today. Is there anything left today of the glorious Judaism of the Temple era? July 7, 2016 The Man with the Jar of Water http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_water_jar-en?pid=3024 ]]>A man walking around with a jar of water was a very unusual sight, as this was ordinarily women's work. Why would a man be carrying a water jar in Jerusalem? The only group of Jewish men that traditionally did carry water jars were Essenes. Essenes were mostly celibate, and their men did women’s work. They had their communities, not only in Qumran, but in various towns. They also had a community in Jerusalem. July 5, 2016 From Abram to Abraham – What is the Big Deal? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_insight_covenant-en?pid=1227 ]]>Abram is composed of two words Av and Ram and means “the father is lofty”. This is an exalted name, but it is haughty and not fitting for the patriarch of a new people. Abraham, on the other hand, contains the words Av and Hamon, which is a reference to the phrase “I have made you ancestor of a multitude of nations” (Gen. 17:5). The change is minor, the only difference being one Hebrew letter: ה (pronounced hey). This letter is has been inserted into the middle of the word ram essentially turning “lofty” into “multitude”. But the impact is major. The emphasis is no longer on the individual distinction of one leader, but on the collective greatness of the entire multitude. This is a theme continues throughout the entire Hebrew Bible. July 4, 2016 What is Sin in Hebrew? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_sin-en?pid=3014 ]]>The word לְהַחטִיא (lehachti) carries the idea of making a mistake or missing a target. In Judges 20:16, the phraseלֹא יַחֲטִא (lo yachti) refers to the warriors of Benjamin who had never missed a target. In Leviticus 4:3, appears the word חַטָּאת (chatat), meaning “sin offering” in the Temple of Jerusalem. However, the Hebrew root for sin, sin offering and missing the mark has another meaning. A much deeper one. July 3, 2016 Enter the Holy of Holies http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_holy_of_holies-en?pid=2600 ]]>The Temple in Jerusalem was organized according to a three-part floorplan: a courtyard, a main hall, and the Holy of Holies. This innermost room contained the Ark of the Covenant, a golden coffer that held the two stone tablets of the Law. The Hebrew word used by the Torah to refer to the Holy of Holies is dvir. This word comes from the root דבר DBR which means “to speak”. It is here that the high priest spoke directly to God. This happened once a year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. What exactly did this conversation involve? June 30, 2016 The Breath of Life http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_neshama-en?pid=3029 ]]>A common theme uniting the world’s religions is the basic distinction between two realms: earthly/heavenly, human/divine, body/soul .The soul, the animating force which makes humans alive, is one of the most interesting words in the Hebrew language: “neshama” (נשמה). This word contains a fascinating secret. “Neshama” is derived from the verb “nasham” (נשם) which means “to breathe.” What is the justification for this connection? Is it because our soul allows us to breathe? No. June 28, 2016 Sing to the Lord a New Song http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_new_song-en?pid=2279 ]]>The Bible is full of music, but nowhere can this be felt more than in the Book of Psalms. In days of yore, many of the psalms were actually sung by the Levitical choir in the Temple. This means singing the psalms in the original Hebrew is the best way to be transported back to the original House of God. Several of the psalms make reference to a “new song.” For example, Psalm 98 opens with these words: “Sing a new song to the Lord. For He has done great things.” What is the meaning of this teaching? June 28, 2016 The Love in Jacob’s Eyes http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_love_in_the_bible-en?pid=2288 ]]>Jacob sees Rachel for the first time as she draws water from the well and immediately falls in love with her. Without hesitation, he asks her father Laban for her hand in marriage. The request is granted, but Jacob is told that he will have to work as Laban’s servant for seven years in order to deserve Rachel. “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her” (Genesis 29:20). June 28, 2016 The Hidden Meaning of Biblical Sacrifice http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_sacrifice_leviticus-en?pid=2430 ]]>The Book of Leviticus is primarily concerned with the ritual duties of the priests in the Temple. The word “sacrifice” is repeated dozens of times throughout this book. Why? In English, we tend to use sacrifice in the negative sense of “surrender”. It is to give up something of worth in order to serve a greater purpose. It is the right thing to do, but it involves a punishing sense of loss. June 28, 2016 War and Bread http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_land_of_bread-en?pid=2526 ]]>Fighting-להילחם (lehilachem), war-מלחמה (milchama) and bread-לחם (lechem) are all derived from the same Hebrew root: ..ל.ח.מ Obviously, this is not an accident. In the old days, people literary fought for their food, and going to war over bread with another person or even with another nation was not such an absurd idea but rather a reality. According to this interpretation, the dependency on bread could be easily transformed into greed and distract people from spiritual inquiry June 28, 2016 Are there still Jews and Greeks? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_jbnt_conversion_paul_saul-en?pid=2574 ]]>GALATIANS AND JUDAISM Being non-Jewish followers of the Jewish Christ in the Roman Empire was difficult, and Galatian Gentile believers were seriously contemplating conversion to Judaism. Two perspectives of dedication to Israel’s God are found in the Bible: Ruth and Naaman. Ruth leaves everything she has ever known and goes to lIve with the people of Israel. Naaman, on the other hand returned to his country and his own people and continued to worship Israel’s God there (2 Kings 5). What should the Galatians choose? June 28, 2016 Alcohol and Hebrew! http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_alcohol-en?pid=2587 ]]>PUTTING ON AN EYELINER? In his Parable concerning the two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah (Samaria and Jerusalem) Ezekiel is accusing the sisters of beautifying themselves before the foreigners. One of the terms used to describe this process of beautifying is כָּחַ֥לְתְּ עֵינַ֖יִךְ (kahalt) “you have painted your eyes“ (Eze 23:40), Kohal is an ancient eye cosmetic, traditionally made by grinding certain minerals and distilling them in order to get a blue colored powder. June 28, 2016 The Song of the Last Supper http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_last_supper-en?pid=2654 ]]>So what happened at the end of the Last Supper? The Gospels tell us “when they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26). The word hymn is a translation of the Hebrew word Hallel (הלל), a reference to the psalms of praise (113-118), which are sung on Passover eve as part of the Seder feast. Jesus must have been fond of these psalms whose central message is deliverance. June 28, 2016 Glass: The BIBLE’S transparent gold- Learn Biblical Hebrew today http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_glass-en?pid=2685 ]]>A SINGLE BIBLICAL REFERENCE Glassmaking started thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia and eventually spread to the Land of Israel. At the time of the Bible, it was a very highly prized material. In Job 28:17 “wisdom” is praised as so valuable that “gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.” The fact that glass is equated with gold indicates its preciousness to the ancient Israelites. June 28, 2016 "בִּשְׁנַת-מוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ, וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת-אֲדֹנָי יֹשֵׁב עַל-כִּסֵּא" 'ישעיה פרק ו', א http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_difficult_times-en?pid=2703 ]]>The Strength of a King The prophet Isaiah has begun his ministry in the times of King Uzziah (עֻזִּיָּהוּ). Uzziah's name means in Hebrew something like “The LORD is my strength”. And indeed, under this king's capable rule that lasted for 36 years, the people of Judea enjoyed almost unprecedented prosperity. Like King Solomon, King Uzziah did not end his reign on a good note, bringing upon himself God’s righteous judgement. June 28, 2016 Something New Under the Sun http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_nothing_under_the_sun-en?pid=2810 ]]>In the opening chapter of Ecclesiastes, Kohelet, Solomon famously declared: “What has been is what will be. And what has been done is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). At first glance, this appears to be a very pessimistic aphorism about the meaningless of life. What is the point of living if everything has been accomplished already? Why even bother trying if there is no hope of true innovation? June 28, 2016 Jerusalem - The City of Peace http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_jerusalem_day_2016-en?pid=2921 ]]>When King David conquered the city from the Canaanite tribe of Jebusites in 1000 BCE (2 Sam. 5:6-10), he hebraicized the old Canaanite name Urusalim (which means something like “founded by Shalim”) to Yerushalayim, the city of shalom, the city of peace. June 28, 2016 Modern or Biblical? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_biblical_modern-en?pid=2993 ]]>The Hebrew language has been with us for so many years. Our Biblical heroes have spoken it, great poets have used it in describing their yearning to return to the Holy land and Zionists have built an entire country on the foundations of this beautiful language. The table below presents eTeacher’s Biblical Hebrew and Modern Hebrew courses. Check it out and choose the right Hebrew course for you. June 28, 2016 Abraham's choice http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_abraham_2_kings-en?pid=2969 ]]>The difference between the English and Hebrew texts is striking. When we read our English Bible, there is no Adam in Genesis 1 – we first encounter Adam in Genesis 2. However, if we read this text in Hebrew, we might be surprised to find adam in chapter 1 – Gen. 1:26. What is going on here? June 23, 2016 Pharaoh’s Unbendable Heart http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_havruta_pharaoh_heart-en?pid=2085 ]]>The image of a hardened heart is the Bible’s way of expressing obstinacy: persisting in one’s foolish way of doing things even when all signs indicate that it is leading in the wrong direction. The Torah actually uses three different verbs to refer to Pharaoh’s heart: חזק (hazak, strong), כבד (kaved, heavy), and קשה (kasheh, hard). June 22, 2016 Shabbat – a Holy Day http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_eli_insights_shabat-en?pid=1995 ]]>The Israelite week was thus established at the time of creation as a seven day cycle. Today we take this for granted, but the idea that humans should organize and track their time around periods of seven days was not always universally accepted. Periods of six and ten-day weeks can be found in a number of ancient cultures. Moreover, in the Israelite/Jewish week, the days, instead of being named, are simply numbered. None of the days receive lofty names associated, for example, with ancient deities or heavenly bodies as in other calendar systems. Only the seventh day has been privileged to have its own name שַׁבָּת (shabbat) - the Sabbath. June 21, 2016 The Shofar Blast of Victory http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_shofar_b-en?pid=1600 ]]>The blowing of the ram’s horn (shofar) during the month of Elul has its origins in one of the most famous stories in the Hebrew Bible: Joshua’s conquest of the city of Jericho. Most of us recall that before conquering the city, Joshua’s army marched around the mighty walls of Jericho for seven days. Fewer of us recall that they did so “with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns” (Josh. 6:4). Why? June 21, 2016 WHEN JACOB SAID SHALOM http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_shalom-en?pid=2350 ]]>Three Hebrew root letters, Shin-Lamed-Mem (ש.ל.מ), express the basic meaning of the Hebrew word SHALOM. We use “shalom” in Hebrew to say “Hi” and also “Goodbye”, but actually what we do is use an ancient Biblical Hebrew expression. June 21, 2016 Your God my God http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_pentecost_2016-en?pid=2949 ]]>In his Parable concerning the two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah (Samaria and Jerusalem) Ezekiel is accusing the sisters of beautifying themselves before the foreigners. One of the terms used to describe this process of beautifying is כָּחַ֥לְתְּ עֵינַ֖יִךְ (kahalt) “you have painted your eyes“ (Eze 23:40), Kohal is an ancient eye cosmetic, traditionally made by grinding certain minerals and distilling them in order to get a blue colored powder. June 14, 2016 The Land of the Red http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_edomites-en?pid=2565 ]]>ISRAEL’S RED TWIN The book of Genesis describes the Edomites as emerging from the line of Jacob’s twin brother Esau. When Esau is born, the Bible describes him as “red, all his body like a hairy mantle” (Gen. 25:25). This seems like a rather odd physical description. But to the discerning reader, this is a prophetic reference to the land where Esau would go on to settle. First, the word for “red” in Hebrew is adom (אדום), from which the name Edom comes. Indeed, much of the region of Edom is made of reddish sandstone, as famously seen at Petra. Second, the word for “hairy” is sa’ir, which sounds much like another name for Edom - the Land of Seir, where Esau lived (Gen. 32:3) June 13, 2016 What Does Gospel Mean in Hebrew? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_eli_insights_gospel-en?pid=1180 ]]>Various sections of the New Testament were written by Jews living in the Roman Empire sometime in the first century of the Common Era. One of the most important New Testament concepts is εὐαγγέλιον (pronounced: euangelion), which in English is usually translated as “the Gospel”. While the word Gospel has positive connotation in the minds of modern Jesus Christ-followers. It still obscures its original Hebraic meaning. June 13, 2016 When Was The Torah Given To Israel? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_eli_insights_shavuot-en?pid=1262 ]]>One of the three most important feasts of Israel is Shavuot (שבועות). It literally means “weeks” in Hebrew (“שבוע” is a week, and “ות” is a plural feminine ending). The name was chosen because of the 7 weeks that had to be counted from Passover. Judeo-Greek Septuagint in keeping with age-old Hellenistic Jewish tradition translated “Shavuot” as “Pentecost” (Πεντηκοστή). The word literally means 50th day (after 7 weeks of 7 days). June 13, 2016 The New Covenant is Not What We Think http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_eli_insights_coven-en?pid=1264 ]]>The prophet Jeremiah wrote in Jer. 31:31 that: “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…”. And then again in vs. 33 we read: “But this is the covenant (הַבְּרִ֡ית) which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My Torah/Law within them (נָתַ֤תִּי אֶת־תּֽוֹרָתִי֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔ם) and on their heart I will write it (וְעַל־לִבָּ֖ם אֶכְתֲּבֶ֑נָּה)…”. June 13, 2016 Has the Church replaced Israel? Is God finished with his Ancient People? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_bible_talks-en?pid=1294 ]]>This question has been in debated for years in both academic & theological circles. The great Apostle Paul had this to say in his letter to the Gentile Christ-followers in the City of Rome: “So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, 'Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.' 'And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.' As regards the gospel they are enemies for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their patriarchs; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." June 13, 2016 The "Other" Meaning of "Holy" http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_holy_new-en?pid=1306 ]]>It was the year of death of a righteous King of Judah and the people found it very hard to cope with the loss of such a good king. That is when it all happened. In that vision, Isaiah saw something that caught his attention. He saw the angels of God’s presence before the great throne of God. They were calling out to each other: “Holy”, “Holy”, “Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole Earth is full of his glory!” The word Kadosh (holy) is recorded here not once, not twice, but three times in a row – a common Hebraic way to emphasize something. June 13, 2016 The Direction of the Heart http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_kavanah-en?pid=1325 ]]>Since ancient times, eminent rabbis of the Jewish tradition have recognized that one of the major impediments to living a fulfilling religious life is the inevitable monotony of prayer. As we repeat the same words week after week, they begin to lose their inspirational power. How can we restore meaning and break the monotony? June 13, 2016 The Tangible Meaning of Words in Hebrew http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_eli_insights_direct-en?pid=1442 ]]>The Lord reaffirmed the promise of the land to Abram and his offspring, by telling Abram that all the land that he could see in all directions would belong to him and his offspring (Gen.13:14-15). We read about this promise in the Book of Genesis: “And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had parted from him, “Raise your eyes and look out from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west”.” (Gen.13:14-15) וַיהוה אָמַר אֶל־אַבְרָם אַחֲרֵי הִפָּרֶד־לוֹט מֵעִמּוֹ שָׂא נָא עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה מִן־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה שָׁם צָפֹנָה וָנֶגְבָּה וָקֵדְמָה וָיָמָּה׃ June 9, 2016 What is Sin in Hebrew? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_eli_insights_sin-en?pid=1472 ]]>Ask people to define the concept of sin and most would start going through a list of commandments, listing murder, theft and other prohibited acts. Hebrew, however, uses the word "חֵטְא" (pronounced: chet) for sin. The word "לְהַחטִיא" carries an idea of making a mistake and missing the target. Judges 20:16 says this about warriors from Benjamin, “Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.” This phrase לֹא יַחֲטִא (pronounced: lo yachti) means “missing the target”. June 9, 2016 Is a Wife Only “a Fitting Helper”? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_eli_marriage-en?pid=1536 ]]>The majority of English translations describe Adam’s life-partner, Eve, as something akin to a “fitting/suitable helper”. However, the Hebrew phrase עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ (ezer kenegdo), if translated more literally, carries an intriguing and far more powerful meaning. Adam’s wife Eve is actually described in oppositional/challenging terms; that is, as being “a helper who is opposite to him”. Even the word “helper” is a weak translation. The use of עֵזֶר (ezer) in Biblical Hebrew connotes an active intervention on behalf of someone, especially in a military context! June 9, 2016 The Time To Make Amends and Come Clean http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_kippur-en?pid=1564 ]]>This festival’s name, Yom Kippur, is comprised of two Hebrew words: yom (יום) which means day and kippur (כיפור) which means atonement. It is described in the Bible as follows: כִּי-בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה תִּטְהָרוּ. "On this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. (Leviticus 16:30) June 9, 2016 What does “Holy” mean in Hebrew? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_holy_hands-en?pid=1596 ]]>Various people in the Bible encountered manifestations of God’s Holiness. One key text that always comes to mind is the experience of Isaiah the prophet when he saw the vision of Israel God sitting on the heavenly throne. Remember? It was the year of death of a righteous King of Judah and the people found it very hard to cope with the loss of such a good king. That is when it all happened. In that vision, Isaiah saw something that caught his attention. He saw the angels of God’s presence before the great throne of God. They were calling out to each other: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole Earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3) June 9, 2016 Unearth the Treasure http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_dhb_intro-en?pid=1673 ]]>In this course, Hebrew grammar will be considered only inductively. Instead, most of the time will be spent engaging in interpretation of the sacred texts. Together we will unearth fascinating nuggets of meaning that are not seen in translation, requiring of the reader a significant set of interpretive skills and an in-depth knowledge of Jewish culture and history. This fascinating interpretive journey through the familiar stories will yield a magnificent spiritual treasure that will enrich your life. Together we will discover on a different, much deeper level the enduring value and significance of the Hebrew Bible for both Christians and Jews alike. June 9, 2016 Roll Back the Clock http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_babel_tower-en?pid=1693 ]]>The story of the Tower of Babel begins thus: “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech” (Gen. 11:1). What language was this? According to the Jewish tradition, the world’s original language was none other than Hebrew. Prior to the Tower of Babel every utterance was in Hebrew. This means God created the world in Hebrew, Adam and Eve spoke Hebrew, as did Noah. But following the Tower of Babel, humanity was split into thousands of languages. Where can one go to recapture the original, primordial Hebrew? The Bible, of course! June 8, 2016 What is the meaning of home? http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_lipnick_lech_lecha-en?pid=1695 ]]>In last week’s Torah portion, we read of the journey of Abram to his new home in the Land of Israel, as promised to him by God. The opening verse of Genesis 12 uses a very interesting phrase which has the power to help us in these times of suffering. But if you read the text in English, you will probably skip right over it. The verse reads “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). The first word is the real key here. In the original Hebrew the word “go” is actually two words: lech lecha (לֶךְ-לְךָ). This can be literally translated as “go towards yourself”. June 8, 2016 Tabor - Hidden sacred mountain http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_ebli_tabor-en?pid=1725 ]]>Of all the sacred sites in the Bible, perhaps none is less recognized than a humble mountain found in the Lower Galilee. From afar one can easily see why this mountain has attracted attention throughout history: its perfect half-dome shape is visible from all sides due to its unique position in the middle of the fertile, wide Jezreel Valley. The name of this special mountain is Mount Tabor. What does the Bible say about it? June 8, 2016 Ladder of Jacob: Ascend Higher! http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_havruta_jacob_ladder-en?pid=1808 ]]>Jacob is forced to flee his brother Esau. He leaves his parents’ home in the Land of Israel and departs for the home of his uncle Laban in Mesopotamia. On the way, Jacob stops for the night and falls asleep on the ground, only to have this famous vision: And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (Gen. 28:12) June 3, 2016 You Are the Son of God http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_eli_son_of_god-en?pid=1752 ]]>Adam and all of humanity in general were created for a particular goal. They were to exercise redemptive dominion over the fish, birds, cattle, the earth and every creeping thing. The verb יִרְדּוּ (yirdu) in Gen.1:26 is not a normal verb for the idea of “rule”, rather, in most contexts, it connotes a “fierce exercise”, “influence”, and even “mastery”. God’s creation needed a boots-on-the-ground manager, or better yet, it needed God’s creation who would be a loving and selfless king. June 2, 2016 The Creation of Blessings http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_eli_first_blessing-en?pid=1843 ]]>The Hebrew word בְּרַךְ (berach) may literally mean either “to bless” or “to kneel”. It's not clear which of these two meanings came first. It is interesting that in the Hebrew Bible the verb בְּרַךְ (berach) “bless” is often juxtaposed to the verb אָרַר (arar) “curse”. The latter verb is closely connected to the idea of “binding” and “limitation” or “restriction”. For that reason, at least presumably, בְּרַךְ (berach) would carry the opposite meaning of “freedom” or “being set free”. There are other linguistic treasures that can be pointed out here, but we will continue with our story of Adam and Eve. June 2, 2016 Deborah, a Mother in Israel http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_deborah-en?pid=1846 ]]>Prior to the establishment of the monarchy under Saul, local chieftains called shofetim (judges) served as the leaders of the Israelites. This was known as the Period of the Judges, and most of the judges were males, with one glaring exception: Deborah. She is most famous for leading the Israelites into battle against the Canaanites in the Jezreel Valley, as recorded in chapter 4 of the Book of Judges. In Hebrew the name Deborah means “bee”, an allusion to the vicious sting she inflicted on the Canaanites. June 2, 2016 Invest in Your Spirituality http://library.eteacherbiblical.com/content/lp_biblical_hebrew_black_friday-en?pid=1861 ]]>We at eTeacher believe that the most vital investment you can make in yourself is not in material objects but in your own spiritual education. In honor of this year’s Black Friday, allow us to make a bold suggestion: put your money towards something lasting. Invest in the edification of your spirit. Studying the Bible with our team of expert instructors will give you the tools to understand Scripture with authority. Best of all, the tools you acquire through our courses will stay with you for life. June 2, 2016