MICAH 5:2 Complete Jewish Bible

Micah 5:1... Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat,so small among the clans of Y’hudah,out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra’el,whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times.

Neither is there SALVATION in any other; for there is NO OTHER NAME+ under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12

That at the NAME of YESHUA+ every knee shall bow, of beings in Heaven, beings in earth, and beings under the earth; and that every tongue should proclaim that YESHUA+ MASHIYACH+ is LORD, to the Glory of ALAHA, His+ FATHER.
Philippians 2:10-11

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Friday, December 28, 2012

The CAMELS are Marching !


~ or ~
The Evidence is Mounting !


Photo by Wysinfo.com

A Look at the CAMEL Variants
as found in the ancient
New Covenant texts...

Nestle-Aland's Greek New Testament, while certainly not my favorite for accuracy, has made a valuable contribution in the researching and listing of manuscripts of the New Covenant.

Considering that there are THOUSANDS of manuscripts and fragments of the Greek New Covenant, Nestle-Aland's work stands as a classic, in this regard especially, in spite of their eclectic text. [ 1979 edition, 12th printing, 1991]

This Nestle-Aland volume is helpful in tracking down the CAMEL vs ROPE discrepancy found in the "Golden, Best, and Historic" ( GBH ) version of an Aramaic English translation published by the Netzarim publishing house.

This discrepancy is only found in the Aramaic TRANSLATIONS, not in the actual Aramaic texts themselves.

The texts online at Dukhrana's collection have oftentimes NO vowel pointings for the Aramaic word for "camel," GaMLa, as in Mr. Steven Silver's Khabouris T manuscript and Mr. Paul Younan's manuscript.  

The Aramaic texts which DO retain vowel pointings, as in the "G, B, and H" Netzarim volume, have the normal vowel pointings which marks GaMLa as "camel."

The vowel pointings ARE marked as GaMLa, (which is correctly translated as "CAMEL")  in the Dukhrana Aramaic texts of :
  • Khabouris C
  • Peshitta New Testament, New York, 1886 Mingana Manuscript
  • Syriac Manuscript 148-38a
... And this is TRUE for all 3 mis-translated verses in question: Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, and Luke 18:25.

Yes, all three verses of YESHUA+ HA MASHIYACH+ 'S  very words are mis-translated as "rope," according to the existing VOWEL POINTS of GaMLA found in the Eastern texts listed above. 

They were changed into ROPE in the English translations of Mr. Younan and Mr. Lamsa... and the "Golden, Best, and Historic" Bible translation published by the Netzarim Publishing House... with apparently no vowel pointings able to be found to substantiate the change !  

Recall that the Netzarim "Golden, Best, and Historic" version says that GaMLa is actually a "GaMaLah"... a rope... due to the vowel pointings, ( page 56   of the Mis-Pag. Edition, footnote 182, for Matthew 19:24).

Unfortunately, these particular vowel pointings, claimed to make a ROPE out of a CAMEL,  are nowhere to be found!

They are not even in the Aramaic text itself that is SUPPOSED to be translated in that volume ! 

Significantly and in opposition to the erroneous translation of the Netzarim Bible, in the two other parallel verses in Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25, the vowel pointings are the same as in the text of Matthew 19:24... the vowel pointings which make the word CAMEL not ROPE.

The vowel pointings making CAMEL into ROPE are also not found in the Aramaic Lexicons, Klein's Semitic Etymology, or the other Aramaic texts themselves which are available online for all to see, through Dukhrana.

?   ?   ?

Where, then , is the linguistic authority to verify even this claim that GaMaLah means ROPE ? 

Where also is the written grammar or lexicon reference which verifies that an extra vowel point is added ... and indeed, that word is USED in Aramaic literature... to make another, bona fide Aramaic word out of GaMLa ?   

Why Go to the Greek Manuscripts
to check an Aramaic discrepancy ?

RIGHT!

By far the  most logical place to check the Aramaic CAMEL vs. ROPE word would be to look   in the Aramaic resources: Aramaic lexicons, Semitic etymology volumes, and such Aramaic online resources as Dukhrana and the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon ( CAL )   for that word GaMLa, camel, and the rope word, GaMaLah.

In ALL the Aramaic resources listed above (and in earlier posts), however, "GaMLa" and its compounds and prefixed forms retain the definition of CAMEL... never ROPE.  

And GaMaLah is just not found !


Because Aramaic is actually a conglomeration of several Semitic dialects, the goodly Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon found online at Dukhrana allows readers to check EACH WORD in a verse. It displays the Aramaic dialect of each word used and its slightly different shades of meaning.

A most excellent, scholarly tool ! 

It has been developed by HEBREW, not GREEK, scholars at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio.  

For instance, let us look momentarily at the Aramaic word for ROPE found in the New Covenant.  ROPE  is actually "CHaBL"... much like the English word "cable." 

The interesting thing is that "CHaBL" ( for rope) is found in ALL THESE ARAMAIC DIALECTS: 

  • Jewish Literary Aramaic, Targumic
  • Galilean
  • Palestinian Targumic Aramaic
  • Christian Palestinian Aramaic
  • Samaritan
  • Syriac
  • Late Jewish Literary Aramaic
Now note this: CAL also listed other definitions in these various dialects for "CHaBL" which were somewhat related to ROPE or CORD:

  • Syriac ... a measuring line or line
  • Syriac and Late Jewish Literary Aramaic ... snare
  • Galilean and Syriac ... region
  • Syriac ... seashore or space
  • Syriac and Late Jewish Literary Aramaic ... a flame, a twisted thing.  
However, no "CAMEL" was to be found hiding within the Aramaic word for  "ROPE" ... and vice versa !
Photo by Flickr.com


The Greek Documentation 

Because: the Aramaic resources of lexicons, Dukhrana, CAL, and their quoted references:

  • NEVER list GaMLa and its forms as ROPE
  • ALWAYS list GaMLa  as CAMEL 
  • ALWAYS list CHaBL as ROPE
  • NEVER list ROPE    for GaMLa
  • and NEVER include the "GaMaLah" form to mean ROPE
... as found in the New Covenant Peshitta and other old writings...

then: the only other resource available to locate this anomoly, this odd Aramaic  discrepancy .... is the Greek ! 
  
 ( More to come on this exciting find. )
   


Sunday, December 2, 2012

An Aramaic GAMLAH is Still an English CAMEL !


Photo by fasterthenrocket.com
A certain man came and drew near and said to him, "Good Teacher, what is good that I should do that I should have Eternal Life? " 

Then HE+ said to him, "Why do you call ME+ good? There is none good except one ALAHA. Now if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments." 

He said to HIM+, "Which ones?" 

Then YESHUA+ said to him, "That you will not kill, and not commit adultery, and you will not steal, and you will not give false witness. And honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself."  

That young man said to HIM+, " All these things I have obeyed them from my youth. What do I lack?"

YESHUA+ said to him, "If you desire to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give them to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and come follow ME+." 

And that young man heard this word and went away sad, for he had many possessions. 

YESHUA+ then said to His+ disciples, "Truly I+ say to you that it is difficult for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

And again I+ say to you that it is easier for a rope to enter into the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of ALAHA. 

And when the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed and were saying, "Who indeed is able to gain Life?"

Matthew 19:16-25

These words are from the "golden, best, and historic" Aramaic - English New Covenant version. [ Capital letters and Aramaic textual spellings of YESHUA+ and ALAHA  added to make the English version line up with the Aramaic text. Footnote has underlining added. Sr. JH  ]

The fanciful footnote (#182) that accompanies this erroneous translation of the Aramaic text says this: 

"Gamala  refers  to a "heavy rope" rather than a "camel" which is also spelled gimel-meem-lamed-alap.   Greek scholars puzzled over a camel passing through the eye of a needle, which is a physical impossibility. 

"YESHUA+ is clearly not saying a rich man can't enter, or HE+ would not "love: this one! 

The "heavy rope" lesson teaches about a rich man entering Heaven, after he "unravels" his fortune strand by strand as YESHUA+ instructs.  

"If his wealth was bound tightly and strong like a rope, it is to be unwound like threads which will pass through the eye of the needle! 

"Careful attention is required to thread a needle; so are the rich obligated unto YHWH for how their wealth is acquired and dispersed.

"Theological attempts to "prove" the eye of the needle to be a geographical location have utterly failed." 

( end of quote)  

Photo by flickr.com

Fanciful Footnote PROBLEM #1:

Gamlah is the word in the Aramaic text... not Gamala... according to  the vowel pointings in this Aramaic text. Gamlah = camel in every Aramaic lexicon available, i.e., [ Jennings, J. Payne Smith, Dukhrana, Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon, Ernest Klein's Hebrew  Etymology, and Henry Whish's Clavis Syriaca, plus in Jeff Benner's Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible ( #2070 pg 315) ]
  

Fanciful Footnote PROBLEM # 2: 

Which Greek  scholars "puzzled" over a camel passing through the eye of a needle ? Who, what , when, where, and why... rudimentary documentation giving the authority for such a broad-sweeping statement. 

Fanciful Footnote PROBLEM # 3: 

A parallel passage with the same exact  details is found in Mark 10:25, but this account records one OTHER important detail.  It says ( from the G,B, and H version itself...)


" And YESHUA+ looked at him and loved him and said to him, "One thing is lacking in you..."

Thus, Scripture says YESHUA+ did indeed love the sad rich man who chose Eternity WITHOUT YESHUA+, Eternity outside of Heaven, in order to keep his riches.

That is why the rich young ruler was
SAD !

 YESHUA+ did NOT give him a loop-hole to escape the confines of Damnation in HELL, HADES, or SHEOL... and eventually, the Lake of Burning Fire at the Second Death !  

If indeed YESHUA+ had proffered
to the rich man a WAY to keep his wealth
and have Heaven too...
the rich man would have left
HAPPY ! 

For, that is what he wanted, hoping YESHUA+ would think that he had kept the commandments so well that HE+ would allow him to enter Heaven !

The LORD said that which is impossible with men is possible with GOD. Yes, it is impossible for a man to shake off the grip of Mammona on his heart. By love of money or fear of no money... it is humanly impossible to untangle oneself from Mammona's grip. 

BUT now....

.... YESHUA+ has made it possible --- for those who love HIM+ ---  to be freed of both the LOVE of and the FEAR of money. 

There is a way even for the very wealthy ones to enter into Heaven; history is full of the accounts of those  who forsook their wealthy holdings and followed YESHUA+.

Since they lived ...albeit simply, as YESHUA+, their Example+ did... they did not die of starvation or exposure ... and laid up for themselves treasures in Heaven.

Where are our treasures laid up?

A Aramaic  "gamlah" is still an English camel and a needle is still a needle. 

And the Words of YESHUA+ are still Truth. 

YESHUA+ said, " I+ am the Way , the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to The FATHER except through ME+. " 
John 14:6   


Sunday, November 25, 2012

Q^Q: When IS a CAMEL ALWAYS a CAMEL ?


Photo by wysinfo.com
Answer:
In about 260
[out of about 266* ]
Greek manuscripts
which include the "Good News", 
"Good Message" or "Good Speech"
GOSPEL books 
(i.e., the bona fide meaning of GOSPEL 
which has been erroneously etymologized, 
in the "golden, best, and historic"
Aramaic-English New Covenant
published by the Netzarim Publishing House
as ( in error):
" God's Spell," footnote 40, Matthew 4:23.)
The Correct Etymology of GOSPEL is according to the classical reference found in the Oxford English Dictionary .

* N.B.: It is difficult to ascertain the total of the Gospel manuscripts correctly, as listed in Nestle-Aland's Greek NT introduction (Novum Testmentum Graece, 1979, 12th printing, pages 49-50). Of the 296 Gospel mss, 30 of these have 2 or more of the Gospels in them, with some verse omissions. These numbers simply give the reader a picture of the incongruency of the tiny number of text variants supposedly used to argue for a translation change of CAMEL to ROPE. The six variants are listed by their manuscript by Nestle-Aland in their footnotes at Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, and Luke 18:25.    

(We will discuss the findings of those 6 Greek manuscripts in a forthcoming post. )

Also in...
  the Pre-Nicene Christian
writers:
Clement of Alexandria
( AD 153 to 193 or 217) 
and
Origen
( circa AD 185- 254),
both of which we will examine later.  

Also in...
Dukhrana resources:
Khabouris C, T, Mingana 148, and BSFS manuscripts, as well as in the Aramaic Lexicons of Jennings ( pg. 48)
 and J. Payne Smith ( pg.72).

In addition to those lexicons, 
Dukhrana's resouces include
the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon (CAL) which has "GaMLa" listing as CAMEL in the "Common Aramaic" literature and as "dromedary" in the Syriac... as well as some compound words made from CAMEL. 

Photo by Flickr.com
   
The thoroughly scholarly CAL also includes the comprehensive information found in Sokoloff's
A Dictionary of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic, 1st draft,
and
an extensive citation from M. Jastrow's Sefer Millim.

Both of these CAL resources cite many ancient writings, including the Targum and rabbinical sources, along with camel-compound words and 
proverbs from that era,
which use CAMEL for "GaMLa". 

Also...

Ernest Klein's fastidious and thorough Semitic-language volume, 
A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language for Readers of English, 
on page 103, includes several root usages of GML in addition to CAMEL... but not one of them includes a hint at rope, cord, or cable.

As in CAL and the other Lexicons, several CAMEL compound words are listed under GaMLa.

As a matter of fact, there was NOT ONE resource that I could find from the Aramaic Lexicons, Hebrew Lexicons, or Ancient Aramaic or Hebraic Writings which listed ROPE as being a possibility for ANY word from the G-M-L root.

Photo by pocketculture.com


But even more importantly than all the scholarly writings and lexicons...
the Aramaic Scripture text itself bears witness that GaMLa means CAMEL.

There are two New Covenant verses that refer to rope, cord, or ship's cableOne verse is found in John 2:15. This verse records the whip of cords The LORD used to cleanse the Temple of the money-changers.  

The word for cord is the Aramaic-Syriac word "CHaBLa" ... which was derived from the Hebrew word "CHaBeL" ... similar to the English word "cable."  It occurs in Proverbs 23:24. This information is according to Ernest Klein, pg. 206.

This same word is found in Acts 27:32, where the Apostle Paul advises the soldiers to keep all the sailors on the ship, so they cut the cables on the lifeboat. 

Thus, if "CHaBLe" means "rope" in the two verses in the New Covenant where rope is REALLY a ROPE...
then why would anyone go against all these witnesses and declare that
"GaMLa" means "CHaBle" ? 

What
is the source 
--- or sources --- 
of this error ?
And worse...
WHY
is this error
being promoted?

( to be continued).      


Photo by pocketculture.com
 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Q^Q: When is a CAMEL Not a Camel ?


Photo from wolfiewolfgang.com
Answer: When CAMEL is found in the "golden, best, and historic" version of the Aramaic-English New Covenant !

This "translation" published by the Netzarim publishing house followed (seemingly) the tradition found in Mr. Paul Younan's work...  which followed (seemingly) the tradition found in Mr. George Lamsa's work... who followed a non-Christian metaphysical belief system ... and that is NOT "seemingly" !  

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Mysterious, Missing, and Mis-Matched ARAMAIC TEXT of Matthew 2:6

  

... Or ...

Where Did the real Aramaic TEXT Go?

Matthew 2:6 from the Netzarim's publishing house's "golden, best, and historic" version of the Peshitta-to-English translation of the New Covenant, in an exact quote:

"And you, Beth-Lekhem of Yehuda you will not be the least of Yehuda. From you, therefore, will go out a king who will shepherd among the kings, my people, Israel. "  Matthew 2:6, Mis-pag. Edition, page 4

What is wrong with this  New Covenant translation of this verse of Matthew 2:6 ?

Only One Thing...
one MAJOR thing:  
it does NOT match...
ANYTHING !


To begin with, it does not match the translations of: Drs. Etheridge, Murdock, Lamsa, the Dutch, Swedish, South African, or French versions, a multitude of English versions, the Greek versions (neither Nestle's nor Pierpont and Robinson's Byzantine Textform) and the Latin Vulgate. (These texts are available to check each New Covenant verse at the user-friendly Dukhrana website.)


Not only that, but ... the quoted verse of Matthew 2:6 does NOT even match ITS OWN PRINTED ARAMAIC TEXT in this interlinear !


That is quite a sleight-of-hand foisted upon the innocent reader who trusts that the Aramaic text printed is the one being translated. [ N.B.: However, I have it upon good authority that there is one Aramaic TEXT published with this aberrant reading implanted somehow within the Interlinear text  itself and is so translated ! Sr. Judith Hannah ]
.
Furthermore, it does not match the Eastern Texts: The Khabouris C, Khabouris T, nor the Syriac MS 148 (Mingana) text, (which is freely available for anyone to check at the excellent Dukhrana website.)
.    

Now, NOT matching the Eastern Texts  may not seem a HUGE problem to some... except this Netzarim New Covenant's version's compiler / editor  takes great pride in SCRUPULOUSLY following the Eastern Texts, according to the words in the introduction and copious footnotes.
.
But then, not matching the Eastern Texts may ONLY be important in the eyes of man... since it certainly was NOT very important in the eyes of the Netzarim compilers, editors, proof-readers, co-translators and cohorts, and others in the publishing house  of this "golden, best, and historic" version of the HOLY WORD of The LORD.
.
To make matters worse, however, Matthew 2:6 will be familiar to readers of the New Covenant BECAUSE it is a quote of the prophetic Scripture regarding the anointed Kingship of YESHUA+ HA MASHIYACH+  from Micah 5:2 :

And you, Bethlehem Ephratha,
being least
among the thousands of Judah,
out of you
to ME
HE+ shall come forth
to become ONE+ RULING in Israel. 

And HIS+ forth comings have been
from of old,
from the days of Eternity.

~ ~ ~ Jay P. Green's Hebrew-English Interlinear

If, however, the learned translators, compilers, co-translators, and cohorts had ANY QUESTION at all about the correct Aramaic translation of  Matthew 2:6, they could have checked the original verse in Micah 5:2 with: 

  • The Hebrew Masoretic text
  • The 2 Jewish Scriptures on-line (see above)
  •  Justin Martyr, Ante-Nicene Fathers , Vol 1, The First Apology of Justin, chapter 34, page 174; and Dialogue withTrypho, chapter 78, page237 ( Justin's version was not the Masoretic nor the Septuagint. Maybe he used the Syriac ? )
  •  Tertullian, ANF, Vol 3, An Answer to the Jews, page 169.
  • Origen, ANF, Vol 4, De Principiis, Book 4, chapter I, page 353.
  • Cyprian, ANF, Vol 5, Treatises of Cyprian, Second Book, section 12, page 52.
... before they printed an erroneous translation of that verse of HOLY SCRIPTURE, a prophetic one regarding YESHUA+ HA MASHIYACH+....
.
... before they printed an erroneous translation based upon a manuscript,  different from  the Eastern Manuscript printed in the Netzarim  publishing house's Interlinear itself... which it was supposed to be translating.


Unfortunately for their readers, this group of editors, proof-readers, compilers,  co-translators, and cohorts allowed this incorrect translation to occur because, perhaps ... : 
  • not one of them have access to the Eastern Khabouris Texts, even on-line ?
  • or... they do not hold a high regard for the sacredness and infallibility of the Eastern TEXTS ?
  • or... none of them check the Eastern TEXTS carefully enough to catch their discrepancies and differences from the Eastern TEXTS ?
  • or... none of them remembered Micah 5:2 correctly ?
  • or... none have access to the Masoretic TEXT or other Jewish Scriptures of Micah 5:2 ?
  • or... if all of the above is INCORRECT...
...then not one of them
[ i.e., the editors, compilers, proof-readers,
translators, co-translators, and cohorts in this publishing house ]
evidenced INTEGRITY 
in handling the HOLY WORD of GOD.
.


Does ANYONE know
where this erroneous manuscript [with the mis-placed text of B'MALKE, the plural form for "among the kings" , i.e,  B'MALKE should be word #8 instead of between words #15 and 16 !] is to be found... since it is not among the Eastern Texts, the Western Texts, the Gwilliam, the New York 1886 Peshitta, nor the Old Syriac Curetonian manuscripts ?


.

Someone does!

Somebody knows
WHERE
that manuscript
IS
with the changed
 Aramaic TEXT itself.... 
which led to this erroneous translation.
.  
Even more crucial... 
. 
SOMEONE+ ELSE knows
  • who changed the Aramaic TEXT,
  •   when  the Aramaic TEXT was changed,
  •     where  the Aramaic TEXT was changed, and
  • WHY  the Aramaic TEXT was changed. 
.

After all ...
HE WHO planted the ear,
shall HE not hear?
HE Who formed the eye,
shall HE not see?
Psalm 94:9 
.

SOMEONE+ ELSE
...frighteningly enough ... 
also knows how many are being 
led astray by this error.
.

Hear what the "golden, best, and historic" translation of 2 Corinthians 4:2 itself says about such actions:  

"But we have renounced the concealments of dishonor, and we walk not in craftiness, nor do we treat the WORD of ALAHA ( GOD ) deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth we exhibit ourselves to all the consciences of men before ALAHA ( GOD )."

.
The problem, you see , is not with the translating;
it is a problem with ETHICS
 ...with honesty... with integrity in the inner man 
...with fair weights and measures,
so to speak.
.
.
Torah is important for it speaks rightly against our human condition, a condition full of deceit and guile, the old man Adam in each of us.
. 

Not one of us is able to live above secret deceits until we are born from above by the Second ADAM+, YESHUA+ HA MASHIYACH+.

When we become New Creatures in YESHUA+, then the old man --- and his deceitful and guileful nature -- is changed !
. 
.
We now want to walk in the Light because HE+ is in the Light and we denounce the hidden works of darkness of our hearts. 
 .
.
If we sin after we have become a New Creature in CHRIST, though, we do have an advocate with Our FATHER in Heaven, in YESHUA+ , HIS Eternal SON+, HIS Eternal WORD+,  WHO+ is faithful to forgive us our sins... if we repent. Hear the Words of Life+ :

 But
If
we walk
in the Light,
as HE+ is in the Light,
we have fellowship one with another
and The BLOOD of YESHUA+ 
HIS SON+ 
cleanses us from
ALL
unrighteousness.
I John 1:7
Drawings courtesy of The ORDER of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

YESHUA+ is The Way, The Truth, and The Life;
no one comes to The FATHER.... except through HIM+.
John 14:6

Sincerely,
Yours for Integrity+ in the Inner Man,
Sister Judith Hannah  + + +

Saturday, September 1, 2012

MICAH 5:2, Masoretic .... DANIEL 7: 13, 14


And you, Bethlehem Ephratha,
being least
among the thousands of Judah,
out of you
to ME
HE+ shall come forth
to become ONE+ RULING in Israel. 

And HIS+ forth comings have been
from of old,
from the days of Eternity.

I was looking in visions of the night
and behold,
with the clouds of the Heavens,
like the SON+ of Man
was coming,
and to
The ANCIENT OF DAYS
HE+ came
and before HIM
they brought HIM+ near.

And to HIM+ was given
dominion
and glory
and a Kingdom
that all the peoples, the nations, 
and the languages
HIM+ shall serve.
HIS+ dominion is an Everlasting Dominion
which shall not pass away,
and HIS+ Kingdom
that which shall not be destroyed.

~ ~ ~ Jay P. Green's Hebrew-English Interlinear