Everyone knows that when this expression is being used, that there are not actually cats and dogs falling out of the sky. It is an expression that means that it is raining very heavily!!
Only those who speak English would understand this expression, in other languages other than the one being spoken it does not make sense.
This is a figure of speech called an idiom.
Scripture is full of Hebrew phrases and idioms that most grafted-in believers don’t know about. It is extremely important that a person who wants to study the Bible has knowledge concerning these things, in order to understand Scripture correctly.
Without the knowledge of these phrases, you cannot possibly interpret verses as they were originally intended by the ancient Hebrew authors. There are many things that grafted-in believers have believed for almost two thousand years, that are incorrect, partially because of this missing knowledge.
Different languages have from dozens, to hundreds of idioms.
So WHAT IS A Hebrew IDIOM?
An idiom is an expression of a concept, feeling, idea, circumstance, or thing, used in a figurative sense to aid and enhance an explanation.
An idiomatic expression should never be interpreted literally. It is very closely related to a maxim and a parable.
WHAT IS A MAXIM?
A maxim is a brief expression of a general truth or rule of conduct. An example of a maxim is: “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Meaning. Definition: Influencing people through thoughts and ideas are more effective than violence.
Idioms, maxims, and parables have been very useful teaching tools, especially in cultures that are without books and rely mainly on oral communication.
WHAT IS A PARABLE?
A parable is a short allegorical story intended to illustrate (or teach) some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. Jesus/Yeshua used parables and figures of speech many times.
A widely-known Hebrew idiom, Bosom Of Abraham, is one of them that is commonly missed, and taken literally.
Is it a real place, or an idiom for the grave?
In Luke 16 He uses this Hebrew idiom. This was a figure of speech they readily understood, and Jesus/Yeshua used it to make His point about a very rich man and a desperately poor man.
His point was that riches, pleasure, possessions, and position can be a stumbling block to us. (stumbling block = deterrent, obstacle).
He wanted to convey how important it is that we evaluate our behavior, and how it will factor into our final destination. The scriptures tell us that our hearts are corrupt, and lack compassion for our fellow human beings. The rich man lacked compassion, and was extremely selfish. He had the evil eye, an idiom meaning he was stingy, miserly, and self-centered.
Jesus/Yeshua was not teaching us about the literal details of the here-after, but rather figuratively used the idiom, bosom of Abraham to teach the principle of generosity, hospitality, and kindness. He was also giving us a glimpse of how He sees our treatment of one another.
Another thing we miss in Hebrew, His original followers were called the Netzarim. (Hellenized in Greek to “Nazarenes”).
Natsarim means Watchmen in modern Hebrew, the term “notzri” (נוצרי) is the general word for “Christian,” which perhaps comes from the word “netzer,” but more likely comes from the name of town of Nazareth.
Those who are Netzarim (watchmen, shoots from the branch,) have a desire to guard and keep truth. They try to view the entire Bible through a Hebrew mindset and adhere to YHWH’s teachings instead of allowing themselves to be swayed by man’s opinions, as He clearly stated in Matthew 5:17-18. that He did NOT abolish the Law/Torah, but came to fulfill it.
It’s normal to confuse Hebrew word-roots, especially between the two words, Natsarim and Nazirite. We actually become a Natsari because we follow Yeshua/Jesus. Paul was a member of the sect of the Pharisees, but became a Natsari. (Yahusha is another Hebrew spelling of Jesus’ name.)
The Natsarim means the Watchmen, as spoken of in the Prophets (Old Testament) and Brit Hadasaha (New Testament). The first followers of Yahusha were called the Natsarim. They were not accepted by the teachers of Judaism nor the early Christian church.
The Dead Sea Scrolls provide the Jewish context of the early Netzari Faith, those of the Way. The Early Believers Called: HaDerech (The Way)The Natsari-Netzarim-Natzraya. Most of the Dead Sea Scrolls were fragmentary; not more than a dozen are intact.
Jesus/Yeshua used many idioms. His natsarim/ followers/disciples knew He used them, and in one place they pointed this out: “His taught ones said to Him, ‘See, now You are speaking plainly, and not using figures of speech!’” – John 16:29
These figures of speech refer to the use of idioms.
Cultural idioms can easily be misunderstood when translated literally.
They vary in transparency.
Some of the following are familiar to us.
There are many examples in Modern English which is filled with idioms:
You had me in stitches- (laughing so hard it hurts)
Are you pulling my leg? (Fooling making a joke)
Kill time, (doing something to pass the time)
Blow your mind, (shock surprise )
To read between the lines saying something more than is plainly written
To go for a burton (to stumble or fall over)
Eat your heart out (Intended to make one feel bitterness or pain as they long for something out of reach.)
Feeling under the weather (an illness);
Woke up on the wrong side of the bed (cranky);
Graveyard shift (working the late shift, past midnight);
Have a bone to pick (dispute between people);
Kick the bucket, croak, bite the dust, bought the farm (die);
Silver lining (unforeseen good aspect of a bad situation);
Red herring (distracting or misleading clue);
. . . and so on.
Not understanding how to apply idioms, we can easily get egg on our face. (This idiom means “made to look foolish”).
Why is unlocking the meaning of hebrew idioms and hebraisms important?
It’s because of misinterpretation, we can easily invent things and places we think may are true or really exist; (as in the idea of Purgatory)– which is a syncretism borrowed from Buddhism.
Definition of syncretism – the combination, merging, blending or reconciliation of differing beliefs or practices in religion, philosophy, etc. which were originally from distinctly separate sources.
Religions which have the belief in this realm often receive money in exchange for “indulgences” which are said to reduce or eliminate a fiery torture for “venial sins.” There is no basis for this in the Bible.
No one can be in Purgatory because it doesn’t exist.
Purgatory appeared for the first time in Christian tradition in the late 12th century, and is derived from a Buddhist practice of making offerings for the dead.
Some scriptural examples of the use of figurative language in conversation or discourse where in the KJV,
the word “apple” is used where the Hebrew text employs an idiom for an object of incomparable desire. This idiom became a completely different one here, since the Hebrew word does not mean “apple”, either literally or abstractly.
The literal meaning is little man of the eye, child of the eye in Zech 2:8 :
בָּבָה
Strongs 892 babah: (baw-baw’)
the apple (of the eye)
Also in Prov. 7:2; Ps. 17:8; Deut. 32:10; as meaning treasured, and very important.
(Makes one wonder if the translator really, really liked apples or maybe he was hungry at the time of writing?)
The “apple of the eye” was the pupil, the aperture at the center of the human eye. At the time the phrase came into use, the pupil was erroneously thought to be a solid, round object and it was called the “apple” because apples were the most commonly encountered spherical objects.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
Zechariah 2:8
There are many Hebrew idioms and if we take them literally, we will be very confused.
One familiar phase, “the bride of Jesus/Yeshua,”can be misconstrued.
It’s an idiomatic expression, we know it’s not literally a gender issue but is giving the concept of being like a marriage, because it’s a covenant relationship reflecting total commitment and selfless love.
Another idiom is the idea of first-fruits, meaning first-born. Idiomatically the idea applies to those in the first resurrection, the bride that will attend the “wedding feast.” This second idiom, “wedding feast,” is an extension of the “bride” idiom.
Some other Hebrew idioms are:
heart (thinking);
eye of a needle (any task requiring great skill and focus);
bind and loose (forbid and permit, according to Torah);
uncircumcised ears/hearts (lack of commitment to Jesus/Yeshua);
make a wide mouth (sneer);
slept (died);
to receive another heart (change the mind);
lifted up his eyes (saw);
hate (avoid, or prefer less than another);
your right eye (your will, decision, or fixed goals);
stumbling block (deterrent, obstacle);
throat an open grave (speak deceitfully);
enlarge space (set free);
under the ban (may mean either dedicated only to Jesus/Yeshua, or be completely destroyed);
stiff neck (obstinate);
kiss the son (show loyalty, render pure homage);
bronze forehead (brutish, unhearing);
remove the foreskin of your heart (commit yourself);
green tree (fruitful, righteous, obedient, and loving one);
dry tree (rebellious, unfruitful, hateful one);
seed (offspring, descendants);
bind and loose (forbid & permit);
bury my father (collect my inheritance); (This puts a clearer meaning to Matthew 8:21 “Another disciple said to Jesus, “first let me go bury my father.”Even though he was a disciple his request showed where his heart was focused.)
evil eye (stingy, miserly);
poor in spirit (humble, selfless, or mourning one);
eagles gathered together (messengers, the weed-reapers at the harvest of the Earth);
right hand (might, strength);
higher-calling (those selected as the bride, first-fruits, at the first resurrection);
old wine (men’s teachings);
new wine (Truth, freeing a person from men’s teachings).
One cannot serve two masters.
Either we will serve Jesus/Yeshua and follow His instructions, or we will follow men’s teaching authority and “fall into a ditch” (be taken away by deceptive teachings).
Dictionary definition idiom /íddim/ n. 1. fixed expression with nonliteral meaning a fixed, distinctive, and often colorful expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the combined meanings of its individual words, the way of using a particular language that comes naturally to its native speakers and involves both knowledge of its grammar and familiarity with its usage..or
an idiom is an expression in a language which has a unique meaning which cannot be understood from the meanings of its parts.
These are all easily understood expressions by our contemporaries; but for those for whom English is a second language, these simple idioms would require explaining.
The same is true for the hebrew language and there are many idioms that are used in the scriptures. When Messiah Jesus/Yeshua was talking and teaching His disciples, He often used idioms that the listeners were familiar with. He also used everyday objects and events that they understood which explained the things He was teaching more clearly and made the examples more personal to their lives and situations.
To fully understand the concept of a Hebrew idiom is that it is a figure of speech that reflected the culture and times in which it was used.
Many NT Greek idioms are literal translations of Hebrew idioms. The boundary between idioms and other figures of speech is not always clear cut in the literature of NT Greek.
In many cases, what are called idioms should, technically, often be analyzed as other figures of speech, such as metonymy, euphemism, etc.
A Euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Perhaps this is to be expected, since idioms often derive from dead metaphors.
Actually, throughout the Hebrew bible there are hundreds of cultural idioms that, through translation into English, have lost their concrete and originally colorful meanings.
English speaking readers who wonder about the significance of phrases such as, suck the milk of nations, but with knowledge (straight from the horse’s mouth), explain it as: getting the wealth of other countries.
Most scripture was originally written in the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. For hundreds of years, Hebrew idioms have been ‘literally’ translated into English. So ancient manuscript which were written to a Jewish culture have been altered to fit modern society. When we read the scriptures, we read the work of translators and scholars who have transformed an ancient document by substituting English words for the original Hebrew.
Consequently, Hebrew thought is lost. The words are there, but the meaning is missing.
Lack of knowing Hebrew and not understanding the unique Jewish mindset has robbed our scripture study of the richness and variety of Hebrew scripture with its poetic, visually descriptive metaphors and analogies.
For an extended list of idioms and meanings which are too good to ignore but TOO long to incorporate in one post! .. please click link below.
There is no idiom or substitute for salvation so..
Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that you have Him in your life and heart..
NOT CERTAIN?
YOU CAN BE..
Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
Its all about Life and Relationship,NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.
He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
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