To follow is the work from my two-letter research, the family of דם roots, according to Hirsch’s variant families (see the Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew, based on the Commentaries of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (EDBH), by Rabbi Matityahu Clark (see References).
h1748. דּוּמָם dûmâm:
⦁ ▸ Tanakh (4 results)
❶. Yeshayahu 47:5 (Mikraot Gedolot)
שְׁבִי דוּמָם וּבֹאִי בַחֹשֶׁךְ בַּת כַּשְׂדִּים כִּי לֹא תוֹסִיפִי יִקְרְאוּ לָךְ גְּבֶרֶת מַמְלָכוֹת.
⦁ Isaiah 47:5-7
5 “Sit in silence (h1748. דּוּמָם dûmâm), and go into darkness,
O daughter of the Chaldeans;
For you shall no longer be called
The Lady of Kingdoms.
6 I was angry with My people;
I have profaned My inheritance,
And given them into your hand.
You showed them no mercy;
On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily.
7 And you said, ‘I shall be a lady forever,’
So that you did not take these (things) to heart,
Nor remember the latter end of them.
❷. Chavakkuk 2:19 (Mikraot Gedolot)
הוֹי אֹמֵר לָעֵץ הָקִיצָה עוּרִי לְאֶבֶן דּוּמָם הוּא יוֹרֶה הִנֵּה הוּא תָּפוּשׂ זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וְכׇל רוּחַ אֵין בְּקִרְבּוֹ.
⦁ Habakkuk 2:19-20
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’
To silent (h1748. דּוּמָם dûmâm) stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
Yet in it there is no breath at all.
20 “But the LORD is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence (h2013. הָסָה hâsâ) before Him.”
- There is a separate note Keep Silence, Hush! הס (perhaps for another time).
❸. Tehillim 131:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)
אִם לֹא שִׁוִּיתִי וְדוֹמַמְתִּי נַפְשִׁי כְּגָמֻל עֲלֵי אִמּוֹ כַּגָּמֻל עָלַי נַפְשִׁי.
⦁ Psalms 131
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.
2 Surely I have calmed (h7737. שָׁוָה šâwâ) and quieted (h1826. דָּמַם ḏâmam) my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
❹. Eikhah 3:26 (Mikraot Gedolot)
טוֹב וְיָחִיל וְדוּמָם לִתְשׁוּעַת י״י.
⦁ Lamentations 3:25-28
25 The LORD is good to those who wait (h6960. קָוָה qâwâ) for Him,
To the soul (who) seeks (h1875. דָּרַשׁ ḏâraš) Him.
26 (It is) good that (one) should hope (H3175. יָחִיל yāḥiyl) and wait quietly (h1748. דּוּמָם dûmâm)
For the salvation of the LORD.
27 (It is) good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and keep silent (h1826. דָּמַם ḏâmam),
Because God has laid it on him;
▸ CWSBD H3175. יָחִיל yāḥiyl: This word occurs only in Lamentations 3:26, and its exact meaning is difficult to determine. It could be derived from yāḥal (H3176) and be an adjective meaning hopeful. Or it could also be a verb derived from ḥûl (H2342) and thus refer to waiting (cf. Ps. 37:7). In this case, the word might imply painful waiting as in childbirth, which would harmonize with the next verse. Whether hopefully or in pain (or both), the verse says it is good to wait in silence for the salvation of the Lord.
▸ Strongs h1748. דּוּמָם dûmâm; from h1826. דָּמַם ḏâmam; still; adverbially, silently: — dumb, silent, quietly wait.
AV (3) – silent 1, quietly wait 1, dumb 1; n m
- silence adv
- in silence, silently
▸ Strongs h1826. דָּמַם ḏâmam; a prim root (compare 1724, 1820); to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish: — cease, be cut down (off), forbear, hold peace, quiet self, rest, be silent, keep (put to) silence, be (stand) still, tarry, wait.
AV (30) – silence 6, still 6, silent 4, cut off 3, cut down 2, rest 2, cease 2, forbear 1, peace 1, quieted 1, tarry 1, wait 1;
- to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb
- (Qal)
- to be silent
- to be still, die
- to be struck dumb
- (Niphal) to be silenced, be made silent, destroyed
- (Poal) to make quiet
- (Hiphil) to make silent (cause to die)
- (Qal)
▸ Strongs h1820. דָּמָה ḏâmâ; a primitive root; to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; trans. to destroy: — cease, be cut down (off), destroy, be brought to silence, be undone, x utterly.
AV (16) – cut off 3, cease 2, perish 2, bring to silence 2, liken 2, destroy 2, undone 1, utterly 1, cut down 1;
- to cease, cause to cease, cut off, destroy, perish
- (Qal)
- to cease
- to cause to cease, destroy
- (Niphal)
- to be cut off
- to be undone, be cut off at sight of the theophany
- (Qal)
▸ Strongs h1724. דָּהַם ḏâham; a primitive root (compare 1740); to be dumb, i.e. (figuratively) dumbfounded: — astonished.
AV (1) – astonied 1;
- to astonish, astound
- (Niphal) astounded (participle)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
דמם/תמן Cognate Permutations
includes מ ↔︎ נ
Impression דמם/תמן cognate permutations (be strong/restrain)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
repress (D31)
דמם p.52 quiet; refrain from speech or action
טמם p.97 dull; close off
תמם p.286 cease; require nothing more
bury (D32)
דמן p.52 fertilize; bury waste
טמן p.97 bury
- No תמן root, but there is a man, Teman* h8487. תֵּימָן ṯêymân; or תֵּמָן Teman, of the clan of Esau, father of Temanites, and Timna h8555. תִּמְנָע ṯimnâ‘, a man and two women.
- Also, h8486. תֵּימָן ṯêymân; or תֵּמָן teman; denominative from h3225. יָמִין yâmîyn/h3231. יָמַן yâman; the south^ (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east): — south (side, -ward, wind).
- Recall the discussion in LogAndSpeck Post 03. Hebrew Thought where it was pointed out that while our “modern day” orientation is based upon “north” based upon the North Star and upon the magnetic north of “the North Pole,” Hebraic orientation was toward the east, the direction of the rising sun.
………………………………………………………
מתן p.145 firm (no cognates) – loins; thighs; waist (h4975. מָתְנַיִם moṯnayim) only in plural
………………………………………………………
נתן p.165 give over (no cognates) – also h5416. נָתָן nâṯân Nathan, eight different Israelites, including the prophet for David and Solomon; also Nathaniel h5417. נְתַנְאֵל neṯan’êl “given of God.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
repress (D31)
bury (D32)
firm (no cognates)
give over (no cognates)
Impression דמם/תמן cognate permutations (be strong/restrain)
- תמן is “South”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
*Teman
⦁ Genesis 36:9-13
9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir: 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau’s wife.
^South תמן/תימן
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to take some time to contrast the ideas seen in two words, words that are clearly related to this דם family of words. We will look at דומם and דמים in contrast with one another. If you search for דמים in LogAndSpeck, you will see we have already discussed that word extensively. It shows up often as “bloodthirsty” or “bloodguilt,” and sometimes simply as blood (Exodus 4:25-26), and we have discussed it as being “excesses.” Typical occurrences appear in the Psalms:
⦁ Psalms 5:6
6(7H) You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
⦁ Psalms 5:7
7 תְּאַבֵּד֮ דֹּבְרֵ֪י כָ֫זָ֥ב אִישׁ־דָּמִ֥ים וּמִרְמָ֗ה יְתָ֘עֵ֥ב ׀ יְהוָֽה׃
⦁ Psalms 55:23
23(24H) But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.
⦁ Psalms 55:24
24 וְאַתָּ֤ה אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ תּוֹרִדֵ֬ם ׀ לִבְאֵ֬ר שַׁ֗חַת אַנְשֵׁ֤י דָמִ֣ים וּ֭מִרְמָה לֹא־יֶחֱצ֣וּ יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝אֲנִ֗י אֶבְטַח־בָּֽךְ׃
We saw above דומם, waiting quietly.
The דם family meaning listed above, from our Two-Letter research is (unfold/restrict).
We showed above דמם/תמן cognate permutations (be strong/restrain).
And note please that דם cognate permutations (measure; determine limits).
The Biblical measure of the nature of a person appears to lie along a continuum of waiting quietly and going to extremes/excesses.
⦁ ⦁ ⦁ ⦁ ⦁ ⦁ ⦁
And… I was then led to consider those passages about not eating uncooked flesh, that say that “the life נפש of the flesh is in he blood” (more literally throughout we have chosen to translate נפש as “soul,” thus “the soul of the flesh is in the blood.” Thus the admonition is not to consume the soul of another. When applied to humans, it means we see them as less than human. With Native Americans and some places in Scripture, we are taught to be respectful of life. If we take the life of an animal to eat, we are to have respect for the life/soul that was in that being. (Deuteronomy 22:6-7)
- Just a peek at “also verses”
⦁ Exodus 23:12
12 Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.
⦁ Exodus 23:12 more literal per BDB
12 Six of days you do your work, and in day the seventh you rest in order that he rests your cattle and your donkey and are refreshed son of your maid and sojourner.
⦁ Exodus 23:12
12 שֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וּבַיֹּ֥ום הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י תִּשְׁבֹּ֑ת לְמַ֣עַן יָנ֗וּחַ שֹֽׁורְךָ֙ וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ בֶּן־אֲמָתְךָ֖ וְהַגֵּֽר׃
⦁ Genesis 1:20
20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures(h5315. נֶפֶשׁ nep̱eš), and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”
⦁ Genesis 1:20 more literal per BDB
20 And says God, “Swarm the waters swarming things of soul living, and bird flies upon the earth upon face of firmament of the heavens.”
⦁ Genesis 1:20
20 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם שֶׁ֖רֶץ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֑ה וְעוֹף֙ יְעוֹפֵ֣ף עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ עַל־פְּנֵ֖י רְקִ֥יעַ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
⦁ Leviticus 4:2-3
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a person (h5315. נֶפֶשׁ nep̱eš) sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and does any of them, 3 if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.
⦁ Leviticus 4:2-3 more literal per BDB
2 “Speak toward sons of Israel, saying: Soul for sins in mistake from כל of commandments of the LORD which not is done, and he does from one from them, 3 if the priest the anointed sins to guiltiness of the people, and he brought near upon his sin which he sinned a bull, son of herd complete תמים to the LORD to a sin offering.
⦁ Leviticus 4:2-3
2 דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ לֵאמֹר֒ נֶ֗פֶשׁ כִּֽי־תֶחֱטָ֤א בִשְׁגָגָה֙ מִכֹּל֙ מִצְוֹ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֣א תֵעָשֶׂ֑ינָה וְעָשָׂ֕ה מֵאַחַ֖ת מֵהֵֽנָּה׃
3 אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א לְאַשְׁמַ֣ת הָעָ֑ם וְהִקְרִ֡יב עַ֣ל חַטָּאתוֹ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָטָ֜א פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֥ר תָּמִ֛ים לַיהוָ֖ה לְחַטָּֽאת׃
- I just point out in verse 4:3 the word תמים which BDB says is “complete,” NKJV as “without blemish.” תמים is obviously cognate with דמים, which we discussed above. דמים cognate permutations (determine).
- I have really pondered this תמים connection to דמים. To determine something or make a determination can obviously be experienced by mankind as either positive or negative (or neutral), and thus is likely a representation of a spectrum or continuum. Webster’s Thesaurus lists adjudicate and judge as synonyms with determine. We have talked previously about judgment and mercy as contrasting actions balancing-out one another. One might look at (accept or reject as you will) that there is a standard, the commandments spelled out in Scripture, and that it is important to know those standards. One might also state that mercy is in knowing when to keep silent about those standards in the circumstances of an individual’s life. It is a forgiveness of enforcement, based upon full knowledge of the standard. This might be part of what Paul discusses in Romans 7:7-12. I often agree with Peter in 2 Peter 3:16, that Paul is sometimes challenging to understand –
- ⦁ 2 Peter 3:16
- 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
- And… I find Peter’s insight, even almost 2000 years later, about people twisting Scripture, very helpful to keep in mind. Much of what has been wrong in our world has been due to the “twisting of Scripture.”
In the “eat flesh with blood” passages, “eat” is אכל.
I return to “blood.” Rather than show the full EDBH entry of each of the individual members of the דם family, see again the synopsis here:
⦁ Genesis 9:4-5
4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, (that is), its blood. 5 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand (a reckoning); from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
⦁ Genesis 9:4-5
4 אַךְ־בָּשָׂ֕ר בְּנַפְשֹׁ֥ו דָמֹ֖ו לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽלוּ׃
5 וְאַ֨ךְ אֶת־דִּמְכֶ֤ם לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ אֶדְרֹ֔שׁ מִיַּ֥ד כָּל־חַיָּ֖ה אֶדְרְשֶׁ֑נּוּ וּמִיַּ֣ד הָֽאָדָ֗ם מִיַּד֙ אִ֣ישׁ אָחִ֔יו אֶדְרֹ֖שׁ אֶת־נֶ֥פֶשׁ הָֽאָדָֽם׃
⦁ Leviticus 17:11-14
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ 12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’
13 “Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust; 14 for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
⦁ Leviticus 17:11-14
11 כִּ֣י נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַבָּשָׂר֮ בַּדָּ֣ם הִוא֒ וַאֲנִ֞י נְתַתִּ֤יו לָכֶם֙ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־הַדָּ֥ם ה֖וּא בַּנֶּ֥פֶשׁ יְכַפֵּֽר׃
12 עַל־כֵּ֤ן אָמַ֨רְתִּי֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כָּל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ מִכֶּ֖ם לֹא־תֹ֣אכַל דָּ֑ם וְהַגֵּ֛ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכְכֶ֖ם לֹא־יֹ֥אכַל דָּֽם׃ ס
13 וְאִ֨ישׁ אִ֜ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּמִן־הַגֵּר֙ הַגָּ֣ר בְּתוֹכָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצ֜וּד צֵ֥יד חַיָּ֛ה אוֹ־עֹ֖וף אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵאָכֵ֑ל וְשָׁפַךְ֙ אֶת־דָּמֹ֔ו וְכִסָּ֖הוּ בֶּעָפָֽר׃
14 כִּֽי־נֶ֣פֶשׁ כָּל־בָּשָׂ֗ר דָּמֹ֣ו בְנַפְשׁוֹ֮ הוּא֒ וָֽאֹמַר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דַּ֥ם כָּל־בָּשָׂ֖ר לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ כִּ֣י נֶ֤פֶשׁ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ דָּמֹ֣ו הִ֔וא כָּל־אֹכְלָ֖יו יִכָּרֵֽת׃
⦁ Deuteronomy 12:22-25
22 Just as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you may eat them; the unclean and the clean alike may eat them. 23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, that it may go well with you and your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.
⦁ Deuteronomy 12:22-25
22 אַ֗ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵאָכֵ֤ל אֶֽת־הַצְּבִי֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣אַיָּ֔ל כֵּ֖ן תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ הַטָּמֵא֙ וְהַטָּהֹ֔ור יַחְדָּ֖ו יֹאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃
23 רַ֣ק חֲזַ֗ק לְבִלְתִּי֙ אֲכֹ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם כִּ֥י הַדָּ֖ם ה֣וּא הַנָּ֑פֶשׁ וְלֹא־תֹאכַ֥ל הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ עִם־הַבָּשָֽׂר׃
24 לֹ֖א תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ כַּמָּֽיִם׃
25 לֹ֖א תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ לְמַ֨עַן יִיטַ֤ב לְךָ֙ וּלְבָנֶ֣יךָ אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
- “Meat” in verse 23 is the same as “flesh” in Lv17:11 and Gn9:4: h1320. בָּשָׂר ḇâśâr
By looking at cognate permutations, can one gain any further insight?
דם cognate permutations (measure; determine limits)
נפש cognate permutations (move/break physically/emotionally)
אכל cognate permutations (slow movement toward increasing/reducing power)
בשׂר cognate permutations (constrain/enable)
The reader should look at these cognate permutation meanings and ponder the combinations to get her/his own understanding. In particular, look at combinations, such as “Do not eat אכל the blood דם,” or “The soul נפש of the flesh בשׂר is in the blood דם.” Recall cognate permutations are just to put you in the ballpark, make you aware of the spectrum or continuum, not give specific meanings. The purpose of all of the sharing in LogAndSpeck is to stimulate your own search, not to give “the answer.” Why would this be a recurring theme? Two things I might throw in, if you are struggling with this, are:
① the soul נפש is the seat of emotions and the will
② measuring/determining limits דם is a process of judging. You might relate that to:
⦁ Matthew 7:1-2
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.“
- This is the argument Benner uses for his “Mechanical Translation,” using a one-word “plug-in” from Hebrew to English. In LogAndSpeck we have been less restrictive (though more restrictive than other translations), but have most often used the Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) wording, which often has two or three choices
One of the requirements laid out in the letter from the Jerusalem Council for Gentiles to become “converted” to Judaism was the abstention from blood. It is a guideline still used that Gentiles are not expected to follow all of the commandments in Torah, known as the Noachian or Noachide laws.
from Post 33. A Beginning Look at Prayer
The Seven Laws of Noah (Hebrew: שבע מצוות בני נח Sheva Mitzvot B’nei Noah), from the Complete unedited version of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia* Laws which were supposed by the Rabbis to have been binding upon mankind at large even before the revelation at Sinai, and which are still binding upon non-Jews. The term Noachian indicates the universality of these ordinances, since the whole human race was supposed to be descended from the three sons of Noah, who alone survived the Flood. Although only those laws which are found in the earlier chapters of the Pentateuch [Torah], before the record of the revelation at Sinai, should, it would seem, be binding upon all mankind, yet the Rabbis discarded some and, by hermeneutic rules or in accordance with some tradition (see Judah ha-Levi, “Cuzari,” iii. 73), introduced others which are not found there. Basing their views on the passage in Gen. ii. 16, they declared that the following six commandments were enjoined upon Adam:
- not to worship idols;
- not to blaspheme the name of God;
- to establish courts of justice;
- not to kill;
- not to commit adultery; and
- not to rob (Gen. R. xvi. 9, xxiv. 5; Cant. R. i. 16; comp. Seder ‘Olam Rabbah, ed. Ratner, ch. v. and notes, Wilna, 1897; Maimonides, “Yad,” Melakim, ix. 1).
- A seventh commandment was added after the Flood—not to eat flesh that had been cut from a living animal (Gen. ix. 4). [changed to list format by this writer]
Thus, the Talmud frequently speaks of “the seven laws of the sons of Noah,” which were regarded as obligatory upon all mankind, in contradistinction to those that were binding upon Israelites only (Tosef., ‘Ab. Zarah, ix. 4; Sanh. 56a et seq.). According to this article, further discussion through the ages has brought a few variations in the listing of these seven points, one being “sexual immorality” replacing “adultery,” but the idea remains basically unchanged.
Again, one may see that these listed expectations are really somewhat of a condensation of the “Ten Commandments” [Ten Words]. One might also consider that James and his council, addressing their letter to people who had chosen YHWH as Father already had well in mind the Ten Commandments and that these converts would be following those ‘Words.’ See the context,** The letter was to dispel controversy over things like circumcision, which was a hot-button topic, not to discuss the Ten Words, which were understood. Observance of the Father’s instructions, which ones, how much, etc. is where this controversy got started and why it rages on today, among brothers.***
⦁ Acts 15:28-29
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
- Can you see any connection between these “requirements” and the statements of the Teacher? Do you see an element of giving up one’s own will/desires, of humbling oneself?
⦁ John 6:53-54
53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
⦁ Luke 22:15-20
15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
- The following are two Hebrew back-translations of the John 6:53-54 verses that I have received (thank you, Lewis, for the Delitzsch). You may still have some questions about his statement, as did the Jews with him (see v. 52). My own personal approach to this conundrum is at the bottom.
⦁ John 6:53-54 Translation of Hebrew from British publisher – Tanakh and the New Testament – using BDB vocabulary
⦁ John 6:53-54
53 And says to them Jesus, “Truly, truly, I say (Aramaic) to you, if not you eat from flesh of Son of the Man and from his blood not you drink, not he becomes to you life in your bones. 54 Be eaten my flesh and be drunk from my blood there is to him life long time, and I lift him up in day the future.
⦁ John 6:53-54
53 ויאמר אליהם ישוע אמן אמן אני אמר לכם אם לא תאכלו מבשר בן האדם ומדמו לא תשתו לא יהיו לכם היים בעצמותיכם:
54 האכל מבשרי והשתה מדמי יש לו חיי עולם ואני אקימנו ביום האחרון.
⦁ John 6:53-54 Translation of Hebrew from US publisher – Delitzsch Gospels – using BDB vocabulary
53 And says Jesus to them, “Truly, truly, I say (Aramaic) to you, if not you eat את flesh of Son of the Man and you drink את his blood, there is not to you life in your inward parts. 54 You eat my flesh and you drink את my blood there is to him life long time, and I lift him up in day the future.
⦁ John 6:53-54
53 ויאמר אלוהם ישוע אמן אמן אני אמר לכם אם לא תאכלו את בשר בן האדם ושתיתם את דמו אין לכם חיים בקרבכם.
54 תאכל את בשרי והשתה את דמי יש לו חיי עולם ואני אקימנו ביום האחרון.
My own personal interpretation (accept or reject as you desire) is that the statement by Yeshua/Jesus is indicating (see the mention above re: having respect for life/soul) that, though he is the Son of Man, his life/soul will not be respected. And recall, from Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” The message to me is to remind us to have respect for the soul of the other. Not only does it have to do with physically killing others, but with destroying the soul of another, or what today we might say taking away their spirit, their passion in life. “Do not quench the spirit.” (My interpretation – do with it as you will.) [Interesting what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.]
Blessings, PG
Ⓒ Copyright Philip E. Gates; LogAndSpeck.com January 2025.