I was asked the following question about the relationship between man and woman in the context of Gen 2:24, and the meaning of the words בשר אחד.
I was asked the following question about the relationship between man and woman in the context of Gen 2:24, and the meaning of the words בשר אחד.
A Biblical text can be a field of land mines which can create many arguments over what is actually being said. This has been the main issue in biblical interpretation for the last 2500 years, and has created many interpretations to text which can be read in different ways. One of the mechanisms used is a very close reading of what is being said, and when the text does something unexpected we look for a reason. In some cases the reason can be very simple, and in some complex. The approach depends on what the reader is seeking, and how they want to read the text. The following is an example of such a case where someone proposed an idea, and I presented a different way of reading.
Originally Published: 1 August 2016
One of the most common verses on FB is the following from Psalms 122:6:
שאלו שלום ירושלם, ישליו אהביך“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, those who love you shall be at peace”
An interesting thing about Biblical Hebrew is the specific use of words. We are mostly exposed to the limited vernacular of Hebrew and the multiple meanings words may have. However, in some cases we actually have specific words which are distinguishable in meaning from others.
Much debate exists about the shape and nature of the Cherubs mentioned in the Bible. They were featured on the ark, the tabernacle and the temple. However, commentators and scholars have debated what they were, and with the findings made in time, we have a better picture of what they might have looked like. The Talmud Sukkah 5b describes the cherubs as children, stating “What is the derivation of cherub?- R. Abbahu said, ‘Like a child’, for in Babylon they call a child Rabia.” This interpretation has led to many artistic depictions of childlike cherubs. However, this depiction is misleading and does not belong to the artistic world of the Bible and the ancient near east. To find the correct meaning of the word we must look at the linguistic possibilities which exist.
Very commonly people refer to Shabbat as a “Queen” and the famous song “Lekha Dodi” uses the female imagery under the word “Bride”. However, the word “Queen” is probably a mistake, and is based on a mishearing when words sound the same. We also find in our case an attempt to reconcile two different parts of the Talmudic text which are the origins of this word formulation.
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