NUGGET #49 JUST LOOK AT WHAT YOURE MISSING!!! The Bible is full of Hebrew puns and without an understanding of these puns, we miss a lot of the richness of the literature contained in this incredible book. Of course you also have to read it in the Hebrew text because, most of the time, our translations also miss these puns. For Example: In Exodus 3:10-11 we have the story of YHWH - God sending Moses to Pharaoh to tell him to set the Israelites free. Moses replies, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh... and we kind of get a picture of a man doubting his own ability - BUT - if you read it in the Hebrew text look at what it reveals: Moses says - מי אנכי - Miy aanokiy - Who an I? Normally The pronoun I is written - אני - ani but by using the word aanokiy the writer brings deity into the scenario. How is this done? Well, the word aanokiy originates from the ancient Summerian word anunnaki which was used to refer to the gods of heaven and earth. By using this word the ancient reader would have recognized its significance and realized that the subject of deity was being played with. Remember too that Pharaoh was considered by his subjects to be a god. With this understanding, let me paraphrase the verse: Who am I, am I a god that I can go and stand before Pharaoh (a god) and make demands? Then we have YHWH Gods beautiful reply, And He said, Certainly I will be with thee and this shall be the sign THAT I HAVE SENT THEE. This last bit in the Hebrew text reads kee aanokiy shalachtiykaa or I [aanokiy] will be with you. Notice the same word aanokiy that the writer is playing with. Now let me paraphrase this all with this understanding that the writer is using a pun: Moses says, Who am I, am I a god that I can make these demands of Pharaoh? God replies Go because I will be with you in all My greatness and sufficiency. Go, not because you are a god but because I, GOD, has sent you. Shalom!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 01:32:45 +0000