Category: Tanakh
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A Tale of Two Digressions
There’s an interesting parallel I’d like to draw attention to in Genesis. They involve two different digressions that happen within the two major stories of Genesis.
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God’s Story of Creation
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2 (KJV) Waters – Have you ever watched the movie HOME by The Goodplanet Foundation? It’s a movie full of beautiful cinematography, and vibrant colors,…
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I Change Not
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6 (KJV) Change – God doesn’t change, right? It’s silly to suggest otherwise when there’s a verse straight from Scripture where God declares exactly that. But maybe I can ask, what about God doesn’t change? Would you answer,…
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Mankind is Secondary
And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15 (KJV) Dress – Did you know this is just a repeat of verse 8? In between these two very same verses, there’s a detour about geography. He names a few rivers…
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Chiasms
A Chiasm is a literary technique used frequently in the Bible. It’s a symmetrical pattern that incorporates two or more ideas; A and B. These ideas are grouped with related variants (A1, B1) and structured as such; A,B,B1,A1. They might also look like A,B,C…C,B,A.
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Tree of Life
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. Proverbs 3:18 (KJV) Tree of life – Have you ever thought about what the tree of life might symbolize? There is plenty of commentary expounding upon the tree of the knowledge of good and…
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Swearing is Actually Good
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Deuteronomy 6:13 (KJV) Swear – I was taught that we were not allowed to swear. And because of this reason, we’re not allowed to partake in jury duty, or pledge our allegiance, or swear any oaths under law. It’s…
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Urim and Thummim
And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. Exodus 28:30 (KJV) The Urim and the Thummim –…
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A Mixture of Interpretations
Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. Exodus 8:21 (KJV) Swarms of…
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Moses is the New Noah
Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. Exodus 32:10 (KJV) Now therefore let me alone – All these words are really just one word in the Hebrew text: yanach which means “to rest”. YHVH…