Results 1 - 6 of 6
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | A look at pronouns: Is (l)Light needed? | Dan 2:22 | Ray | 133223 | ||
Reference Isaiah 50:10, post #33229. In this previous post I had considered capitalizing "Light" for Daniel 2:22 because I believe that Jesus claimed to be the Light of the world. However, this does not need to be the interpretation for there is in the verse the contrast of darkness and light. What I have "penciled in" for my personal copy is a combination of the NKJ translation for verse 23a and the NASB translation for 23b. So here is my interpretation/translation for what it is worth. Daniel 2:22, "It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him. 23 I thank Thee and praise Thee, O God of my fathers, For Thou has given me wisdom and power; Even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of Thee, For Thou hast made known to us the king's matter." Comments from any Hebrew scholar or more reference verses would be appreciated. From the heart, Ray |
||||||
2 | A look at pronouns: Is (l)Light needed? | Dan 2:22 | DocTrinsograce | 133306 | ||
I'm no Hebrew scholar except in the very broadest sense of the word -- and then only if you included kindergarteners, too! :-) But I'll give it a shot since you're asking. The word "dwells" ("sheray") comes from a Chaldee root which means to loose or unbind, or solve as in "hard questions" (Dan 5:16). Apparently it was associated with people unbinding the loads from their pack animals at the point of their arrival. So, what is being said here is that light abides with God, and that this abiding with God is its appropriate place. God is surrounded by this light that uncovers truth. No doubt this is part of what is meant by "light" in Acts 26:18, 2 Corinthians 4:4, and 1 John 1:5. The word "light" ("neh-heree") means, as one would expect, illumination. However, it also figuratively means wisdom. If you are going to make it mean Jesus Christ in the sense that you would like it to mean, then you have two problems. 1. You will need to make it mean the same thing in all of the passages where it is used by the same author. The word "neh-heree" also appears in Daniel 5:11 and 5:14. 2. Perhaps the more difficult problem, however, is that in this verse (Daniel 2:2) the word "darkness" is used in an equivalent fashion. So you will also have to personalize it as well. (Fortunately, this last word only appears once in Daniel (or anywhere else) so you won't have the consequential task of personalizing any other references to darkness.) You might want to work on the Hebrew word "ore" instead. But you still have a difficult task. The New Testament was written in the light (excuse the pun) of the Old. Frankly, I don't find the metaphor of God (or Christ) as "the Light" used quite in the way in which you hope. One must be careful not to push the interpretation of a passage beyond the intent of the original writer. On the other hand, keep digging at it. It is an interesting idea. Perhaps you will uncover a new observation. In Him, Doc |
||||||
3 | A look at pronouns: Is (l)Light needed? | Dan 2:22 | Ray | 133309 | ||
Hi Doc, Acts 26:18: Somewhere in the archives I spoke of how a capitalized Light fits well with this verse. From darkness to Light; from dominion of satan to God. 2 Corinthians 4:4: I do not wish to capitalize light in that verse. Seeing the light of the gospel and giving the light of the knowledge (verse 6) do not denote Deity to my mind. I believe that light shall shine out of darkness because of the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 1 John 1:5: This verse in the 1977 copyright NASB has light in lower case. The 1995 copyright has Light capitalized. 1 John 1:5, NASB, "This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, wwe lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." Light of the world: The new copy of NASB also has Light capitalized for both John 8:12 and John 9:5. As a capitalizer and as a counter of pronouns I had already capitalized these words as talking of Deity. John 8:12, "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the (Light) of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 9:5, "While I am in the world, I am the (Light) of the world." The parentheses are mine for comparison. 1) For Daniel 2:22, I think that it is a perfect match for 1 John 1:6 while using a lower case light. Daniel 2:22, "...and the light dwells with *Him. 1 John 1:6, "And if we say that we have fellowship with *Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." 2) I go with the mixture of the NKJ and the NASB for Daniel 2:23 because I am a "counter of pronouns of Deity" and believe that many of the prayers in the Scriptures have pronoun sums that are divisible by three. From the heart, Ray |
||||||
4 | A look at pronouns: Is (l)Light needed? | Dan 2:22 | DocTrinsograce | 133336 | ||
Would you do the same with "God is refuge/rock" (2 Sam 22:2; Psa 18:2), "God is one" (Deu 6:4), "God is good" (1 Tim 4:4), "God is love" (1 John 4:8,16), "God is at hand" (Mar 1:15), "God is nigh" (Luke 10:9,11; 21:31), "God is true" (John 3:33; 2 Cor 1:18), "God is holy" (1 Cor 3:17), etc. There are more, "sun," "shield," "buckler," "strong tower," etc. I'm not trying to be flippant with you, brother Ray. I'm just tyring to make the point clear. If the word "light" is used in a physical sense, then it is only one of many words used that way in revealing the nature of God. If it is used in a figurative sense, then it is only one of many words used that way in revealing the nature of God. Do you begin to see what this is such a difficult task? If you are going to do it with one, you must do it with all of them. Alternatively, if you do it with one, but not another, then you have to justify why it doesn't apply to that word. Again... it may well be worth the effort... but it will be quite a task -- at least in my opinion (and someone else has pointed out if I'm not all wet, I'm at least moist!) :-) |
||||||
5 | A look at pronouns: Is (l)Light needed? | Dan 2:22 | Ray | 133344 | ||
Hi Doctrinsograce, I appreciate your thoughts and agree with them. I started studying the triune God sometime before 1985, so I certainly agree with you that it is quite a task. Not only do I have to be consistent in my choices, I need to compare them with other Scriptures. An additional problem is the varying translations and manuscripts. I have learned to go to the Greek in these latter years of my studying, although I know little of the language. The Greek and Hebrew give no help in the capitalization choices, but as a "counter" of pronouns a knowledge of the languages would be helpful to me. I can only compare the various translations. I have learned to use the NASB and the NKJ because they capitalize pronouns of Deity. 2 Sam 32:2, NASB, "For who is God, besides the Lord? And who is a rock ,[sic] besides our God? 33 God is my strong fortress; And He sets the blameless in His way." This translation leaves "rock" in lower case and has a total of six pronouns. 2 Sam 32:2, NKJ, "For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? 33 God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect." This translation leaves "rock" in lower case and has a total of five pronouns. The varying manuscripts used determine these totals and shows us that these things have been talked about before. Does He make "His" way perfect or "my" way? 1) 2 Samuel 22:2-3 have the words "rock, fortress, deliverer, rock [strength, NKJ], shield, horn, stronghold, refuge, and savior [Savior, NKJ]. So yes, there are some decisions to be made. I have learned to make them by comparing Scriptures with Scriptures. Psalm 18:1-2 are good companion verses to 2 Samuel 22:2. Also Psalm 92:15. Psalm 92:15, "To declare that the Lord is upright; [He is] my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Thanks for thinking of these things with me. From the heart, Ray |
||||||
6 | A look at pronouns: Is (l)Light needed? | Dan 2:22 | DocTrinsograce | 133406 | ||
I think it is finally sinking in! This sounds interesting. It might be helpful to use an interlineary after learning the specific pronouns in the language in question. (By the way, one of the things I like about KJV is that it retains the second person plural, something that is lost in all other translations. Perhaps that is something to think about for your own studies.) Thank you for your patience in explaining things to me. I can be slow sometimes! :-) Now, Ray, if we were only about 40 years younger we could become those Hebrew/Greek scholars we wish we could be! :-) | ||||||