Comments on: The Wisdom of Hebrew Words

By: Lois Tverberg

Lois Tverberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:29:35 +0000

In reply to Chuck Adkinson. Thanks for sharing, Chuck.

By: Chuck Adkinson

Chuck Adkinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:35:42 +0000

i think my ..lol!! eyes were opened when i first heard Ray Vaanderlan….i mean wow! then i truly started to see the BIBILE in a whole new light,in its jewish context.If we would only grasp that,i believe the BIBLE wouldnt really be so hard to understand,understanding its a jewish documen…meaning its got that context & culture..your 1st book brought tears to my eyes,THE HOLY SPIRIT showed me SOO MUCH in that book,then i applied it to the BIBLE…and it just TRULY CAME ALIVE to me

By: Lois Tverberg

Lois Tverberg — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:04:21 +0000

Thank you, Jason for your feedback and your insightful comment. Here and in some other places Paul uses Greek verbs based on “hearing” to describe obedience.

As I read more about akouo (“hear” in Greek), I see that while it can connote obedience the NT and Greek OT, it rarely has this sense in classical Greek writing. It generally means “hear, listen” or maybe “pay attention to” but not actually “obey.”

The reason that New Testament Greek is more Hebraic than Greek is otherwise is because the biblical writers were expressing Hebraic ideas in Greek words. You see this elsewhere too. Like the word for “walk,” paripateo, often means “live” in the NT. (As in 1 John 2:6, “…we must walk as He walked.”) But outside of the Bible, it simply means “walk.” In the New Testament it carries a Hebraic connotation that it normally doesn’t have.

By: Jason Dillingham

Jason Dillingham — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:57:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing these Lois. This idea of hearing = obeying seems to be true in the Greek language as well. The best example that I have seen in scripture of this concept is in Romans 5:19…

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19 KJV)

The word translated disobedience is “parakoia” which translates “hear beside” and carries the meaning of inattentive listening. And the word obedience is “hupakoia” which translates “hear under” and carries the idea of listening in submission.

When I read that passage with this in mind it brings a great comfort knowing I can rest and trust He makes me righteous by faith in Jesus’ obedience (attentive listening).

Thanks again for your books & website.