The text:  … Cain worked the soil (in Hebrew: ‘abad’ ‘adamah’).   (Genesis 4:2) Hebrew uses two words for our concept of a farmer, i.e.: The first word: abad: a verb that can be translated as ‘to work’ – to serve. In view of the verb form used, to be translated as: to labour, to work, to […]

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in […]

Matthew 14:22-31 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable […]

The text: But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.   (Psalm 22:6)     The worm (‘towla’ or ‘tola’ath’ in Hebrew) of this Psalm bares the scientific name ‘coccus ilicis’. A worm reminds us if an earthworm that is easily crushed under foot, but the ‘coccus ilicis’ […]

The text: For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.   (Romans 1:20) God’s eternal power and divine nature are seen clearly, being understood from what has been made. ‘Seen’ and ‘understood’ are translations of […]

The Hebrew word ‘adam’ is used with different meanings. (translation according to the O.L.B.) The Hebrew word ‘adam’. The Hebrew word ‘adam’ is a verb, which can be translate, among other things, as red – reddish – dyed red – having become red. Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and […]

A trinity is mentioned frequently in the Bible. For example God, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and man, as body, soul and spirit. A trinity that symbolises great strength is illustrated in Ecclesiastes 4:12, which states: A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.   Rope for daily use is usually manufactured from […]

The text: Throughout the period of their dedication to the LORD, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body …   (Numbers 6:6) A dead body is the translation of two Hebrew words in this verse, i.e. soul and the verb to kill – to die. The Hebrew says literally: … he shall not go […]

The text: You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned.   (Ezekiel 28:15-16) Alternative translation for ‘widespread trade’.   The word ‘widespread’, is the translation of the Hebrew word ‘rob’. According to the OLB: […]

Tyre was a trading city, situated on the Mediterranean seacoast. Because of its ports, which lay partially in the sea, it was a very prosperous city, as also appears from the description in Ezekiel chapter 27. Chapter 28 of Ezekiel begins as follows: The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, say […]