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Introduction Key Questions What language did Yeshua use for conversation and teaching? What language did the apostles use to pen their original writings? Christian scholarly assumptions Aramaic vernacular of Jews in Israel Hebrew synagogue reading and rabbinic study only; a dead language otherwise Greek vernacular of Jews in the Diaspora New Testament reflects Hellenistic Judaism
Historical Sketch Hebrew Derives from Ever (Eber), Gen 10:21 Language of the patriarchs, Gen 31:47 Language of the Tanakh, 99% Aramaic Originated in Aram, cf. Gen 31:47 Contrasted with Hebrew, 2 Kin 18:26 Israelites used Aramaic during the exile, Ezra 4:8 6:18; 7:11-26; Dan 2:4 7:28 Greek Imposed by Greek conquest, 4 th cent. BCE Greek currency, language and customs International impact; even in Israel
Sources for Research Scripture LXX with Apocrypha Grk., 2 nd cent. BCE Dead Sea Scrolls Heb. (also Grk.), BCE Proto-Masoretic Text Heb. (2 nd cent. CE) Greek New Testament 2 nd cent. CE Peshitta Aramaic Tanakh (2 nd cent. CE) Extra-Biblical Literature Works of Josephus & Philo Grk., 1 st cent. Bar Kokhba Letters Mixed (c. 135 CE) Targums Aram. (c. 135 CE) Mishnah Heb. (c. 220 CE) Church Fathers Hebraic Gospel of Matthew
Archaeological Evidence Coins in Israel Museum 99 in Hebrew 115 in Greek 1 in Aramaic Ossuaries Stone burial containers Inscriptions in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic Temple stones Hebrew inscriptions on stones that fell from the wall at the destruction by the Romans Temple signs Signs in Greek prohibiting Gentile entry into the sanctuary area (Josephus)
Aramaic Words in NT Aramaic Words Abba, Mark 14:36 Kêpha, John 1:42 Maranatha, 1 Cor 16:22 Names with Bar, Matt 10:3; 16:17; 27:16; Mark 10:46; Acts 1:23; 4:36; 13:6 Considerations There are several alleged Aramaic words None are proof that Aramaic was dominant Some of the alleged words are Hebrew Evidence of assimilation into Hebrew Far more Hebrew words transliterated
Language Basics Transliteration Letter substitution; mimics pronunciation No interpretation of meaning Words for deity, people, places & others E.g.: Sabbath" from Grk. sabbata for Heb. shabbat Translation Interpret meaning of words Generally based on actual usage E.g.: "L-rd" for Grk. kurios (master, owner) for Adonai (L-rd, master, ruler) Exception: Christ for Grk. Christos (smeared on) for Heb. Mashiach (anointed one)
Hebraic New Testament Authors Observant Jews, not Christians Lived in the land of Israel, not Palestine Composition Theological subject matter Dependence on the Tanakh Grammar Hebrew idiomatic sayings Transliterated Hebrew words Frequent conjunctions Sentence structure Bad Greek likely from a Hebrew text
Hebraios Word-Group LXX LXX uses Hebraios 34 times for Ibri ( Hebrew ), e.g., Gen 39:14 LXX uses Suristi (Syrian) 4 times for Aramit ( Aramaic ), e.g., 2 Kin 18:26; Dan 2:4 Greek New Testament Hebraios word-group occurs 14 times Some versions (CEV, ESV, NIV) trans. as Aramaic in some passages Suristi does not occur in the NT at all
Use of Hebraios Hebrew Identity Hebraic Jews, Acts 6:1 Paul the Hebrew, 2 Cor 11:22; Phil 3:5 Hebrew Language Sign in Hebrew, Greek & Latin, John 19:20 Speech in Hebrew, Acts 21:40; 22:2; 26:14 Words labeled as Hebraios Bethesda ( pool ), John 5:2 Gabbatha ( pavement ), John 19:13 Golgotha ( skull ), John 19:17 Har-Magedon, Rev 16:16 Rabboni ( teacher ), John 20:16 Abaddon, Rev 9:11
Confusing Message My G-d, My G-d, why have you forsaken me? Matt 27:46 has Eli, Eli Lama Sabachthani Mark 15:34 has Eloi, Eloi Lama Sabachthani Psalm 22:1 has Eli, Eli, lama azavtani Eli or Eloi? El is personal possessive of Heb. El What is Eloi? Eloi is not Hebrew Eloi is not Aramaic; my G-d is Elahi (Dan 4:8) Eloi is Greek See the LXX at Judges 5:5 where it transliterates Heb. Elohi, a personal possessive form of El Typical of both Greek and English transliteration of Hebrew to drop the Hey letter.
Hebrew Words Spoken by Yeshua Amên, Matt 5:18 Bath, Luke 16:6 Beelzebul, Matt 10:25 Boanêrges, Mark 3:17 Korban, Mark 7:11 Kummin, Matt 23:23 Ephphata, Mark 7:34 Kor, Luke 16:7 Mammon, Matt 6:24 Moreh, Matt 5:22 Mulberry, Luke 17:6 Pesach, Matt 26:2 Raca, Matt 5:22 Rabbi, Matt 23:7 Sabbath, Matt 12:5 Satan, Matt 4:10 Talitha kumi, Mark 5:41 Tares, Matt 13:25 Woe, Matt 23:13
Sources for Further Study David Biven & Roy Blizzard, Jr. Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus. David Biven, New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus. David Flusser, Jewish Sources in Early Christianity. Douglas Hamp, Discovering the Language of Jesus. David Hill, Greek Words and Hebrew Meanings. Robert L. Lindsey, Jesus Rabbi & Lord: The Hebrew Story of Jesus Behind Our Gospels.