The Bible is full of Hebrew & Greek Idoms

The Bible is full of Hebrew & Greek Idioms which can make understanding God's Holy Word difficult in many verses throughout the Old & New Testaments. So today we will take a look at some of these Idioms to gain a better understanding of how much they can change the English meaning of some verses.
The following verses are a few examples of this: GENESIS 19:26, 
speaking of Lott's wife, "BUT HIS WIFE LOOKED BACK BEHIND HIM, AND SHE BECAME A PILLAR OF SALT."
(Pillar of Salt) meaning lifeless; stricken dead.
DEUTERONOMY 32:33   "THEIR WINE IS THE
POISON OF SERPENTS, AND THE CRUEL VENOM
OF COBRAS."
   Meaning Pagan teaching; corrupt practices and slanderous
   actions.  In this verse Moses was speaking of Enemy Nations'
   like Sodom & Gomorrah, thus Nations which were cruel,
   immoral and corruptive!
2 SAMUEL 22:9   "SMOKE WENT UP FROM HIS
NOSTRILS;"
   Idiom meaning very angry, enraged!
JOB 15:2   "FILL HIS BELLY WITH THE EAST WIND.
   Idiom meaning he was proud, bragging, boasting.
PSALM 29:10   "THE LORD SITTETH UPON THE
FLOOD."
   Idiom meaning that God is in control.  He crushes the armies
   of the enemy.
PROVERBS 23:34   "LIETH DOWN IN THE MIDST
OF THE SEA."
   Idiom meaning Lost; in a dilemma; senseless; in doubt.
ECCLESIASTES 4:2   "CAST THY BREAD UPON
THE WATER AND THOU SHALL FIND IT."
   Idiom meaning to give generously to charities and it shall be
   given back to you.
   Note:  Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 is filled with Idioms in all most
   ever verse!
ISAIAH 2:10   "ENTER INTO THE ROCK, AND HIDE
IN THE DUST."
   Idiom meaning take refuge in a cave; flee for your life.
MATTHEW 5:29   "IF THY RIGHT EYE OFFEND
THEE PLUCK IT OUT."
   Idiom meaning If you have a habit of envying others, stop it.
MATTHEW 5:30   "CUT YOUR HAND OFF."
   Idiom meaning to stop stealing!
MATTHEW 5:39   " WHOSOEVER SHALL SMITE THEE
ONTHY RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER
ALSO."
   Idiom meaning Don't start an argument or fight.  Instead be
   humble.
MARK 14:22   "EAT MY BODY."
   Idiom meaning Share my sufferings.  Make my teachings part
   of you.  Think of me when you celebrate the Passover!
MARK 14:24   "DRINK MY BLOOD."
   Idiom also meaning make my teachings part of your life.  Be
   willing to suffer for my truth. Think of me when you celebrate
   the Passover!
MARK 16:18   "DRINK ANY DEADLY THING."
   Idiom meaning live a clean life so if others attack your character
   no one will believe them!

   Each Book of the Bible is filled with such Idioms.
Especially Books such as Ecclesiastes, Daniel, Ezekiel and
Revelation, to name a few.  So the above is just a short sampling
of these type verses.

   For the deeper student of God's Word, you may purchase a
Book listing the meanings of many of the Idioms in the Scriptures,
Book by Book, at  Christian Bookstores.

HONOR TRADITION — TELL BEDTIME STORIES

The telling of bedtime stories is a time-honored tradition. There isn’t a child out there who doesn’t enjoy having his mother or father read to him before bedtime. It’s a way to stay close and connected to your children. It also tickles their imagination and their love for books and reading. Bedtime stories often inspire children to be creative as they grow up.

There are a lot of stories to choose from.  Fairy tales and fables, and recently parents have taken to telling children’s bible stories. The Holy Bible is full of inspirational stories and great characters. If you want to emphasize on courage, tell the story about Daniel in the Lions’ Den. The story of Noah’s Ark points out that family should stay together despite adversities. Whatever virtue or moral value you want your child to learn, there’s a bible story that talks about it.

THE BOOK OF JOB

The first book of the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament, The Book of Job, follows God’s most faithful servant, Job, through a series of unfortunate events. God tests Job’s faith when he is told by Satan that Job is only faithful because God favors him. God then takes away all that he gave to Job; a family, a home, and riches. Job at first does not curse God, stating that he was brought into this world with nothing, and realized it all could be taken away. But when God then curses Job with sickness, he was then ready to curse God. It was Job’s friends who brought him through his despair, and in the end God gave back all he had taken from Job.

This is one of the more controversial texts of the KJV bible, as it suggests that, for no moral reason, Job’s faith was tested. However, this is also a tale of the importance of faith because had Job not cursed God, he would have proved Satan wrong.

ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE THROUGH RELIGION

The Christian way of life is the pillar and support of the truth and should be concerned about congregational purity. That is why the entire life course of a faithful Christian is actually governed by faith, enabling them to overcome obstacles that would hinder their service to the Lord.

Most devoted Christians apply their faith and beliefs in their daily life. They take as much opportunity as they can to spread God’s words and help change the lives of other people for their betterment. Whether you are a casual follower or a devout Christian, having a New American Standard Bible in the house is an ideal way to ensure God’s word in omnipresent.

THE HISTORY OF THE KING JAMES VERSION

The Authorized King James Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible conceived in 1604 and brought to fruition in 1611 by the Church of England. Printed by the King’s Printer, Robert Barker, the first edition included schedules unique to the Church of England; for example, a lectionary for morning and evening prayer. The first “authorized version” was the Great Bible commissioned by the Church of England in the reign of King Henry VIII. In January 1604, King James I of England convened the Hampton Court Conference where a new English version was conceived in response to the perceived problems of the earlier translations as detected by the Puritans, a faction within the Church of England.

The king gave the translators instructions designed to guarantee that the new version would conform to the ecclesiology and reflect the Episcopal structure of the Church of England and its beliefs about an ordained clergy. The translation was by 47 scholars, all of whom were members of the Church of England. In common with most other translations of the period, the New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus series of the Greek texts. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text, while the Apocrypha were translated from the Greek Septuagint (LXX), except for 2 Esdras, which was translated from the Latin Vulgate.

While the Authorized Version was meant to replace the Bishops’ Bible as the official version for readings in the Church of England, it was apparently (unlike the Great Bible) never specifically “authorized”, although it is commonly known as the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom. However, the King’s Printer issued no further editions of the Bishops’ Bible; so necessarily the Authorized Version supplanted it as the standard lectern Bible in parish church use in England. In the Book of Common Prayer (1662), the text of the Authorized Version replaced the text of the Great Bible - the Epistle and Gospel readings - and as such was “authorized” by Act of Parliament. In the United States, the Authorized Versions are known as King James Bibles. The earliest appearance in print of the phrase “authorized version”, to mean this particular version of the bible, was published in 1824. The phrase ‘King James version’ first appeared in print in 1884.

THE BENEFITS OF BIBLE STUDY

Whether they are King James Version Bibles or the NAS, we all possess at least one copy of God’s Word if we are a Christian. But just possessing one does not bring a Christian to maturity. It takes hard work and that means Bible study. For all the hard work, there are benefits in the end that far out way the cost. Benefits can be getting answers to life’s problems, building a foundation for an intimate prayer life with God, or defending the Christian faith, but the ultimate payoff reading Bible study guides is the knowledge leading to maturity and confidence as a Christian.

Lastly, how can we fulfill our true calling to be witnesses? Bible study is the only way Christians can defend the Christian faith properly. Just last week on a radio program I heard a woman who claimed to be a Christian try to defend “God hates divorce” and you could tell she was so ill-equipped to take on the Jewish host who claimed to know the Old Testament and referred to Moses’ Certificate of Divorcement. At that point, she could not respond properly due to her lack of knowledge of both the Old and New Testaments. I felt sorry for her because every time the host would respond she would be speechless. http://www.christianfamilysupply.com

TEACHING YOUR KIDS ABOUT THE BIBLE

Many parents who have religious faith are met with a dilemma when they have children. They want their children to have the strength, learning, and humility offered through faith, but they don’t want to force anything on their kids. Faith, after all, should be a personal choice. But that doesn’t mean you can’t expose your children to the teachings of the King James version Bible and faith-based ideas. This will present them with one avenue of thought, and then they can make decisions on their own about what they do or don’t believe.

One way to engage your children in this faith-based discussion is through religious toys. These action figures depict various biblical figures and stories such as Noah, the nativity, Jonah and the whale, and many more. It will be a great way to introduce biblical issues and morals in a fun and interesting way. Kids will love to play with these figures, and they’ll also love to hear the universal lessons that can be learned from these stories. Visit us at: http://www.christianfamilysupply.com

TRANSLATION INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE

The New American Standard (or NAS) Bible is widely regarded as the most literally translated of 20th-century English Bible translations. According to the NAS Bible’s preface, the translators had a “Fourfold Aim” in this work:

• These publications shall be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
• They shall be grammatically correct.
• They shall be understandable.
• They shall give the Lord Jesus Christ His proper place, the place which the Word gives Him; therefore, no work will ever be personalized.

As its name implies, the NAS bible is a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901. This translation was begun as an alternative to the Revised Standard Version (1946–1952/1971), itself a revision of the ASV, but considered by many to be theologically liberal. Using the ASV as its English base, the NAS Bible’s translators revised the ASV as literally as possible.

Seeing the need for a literal, modern translation of the English Bible, the translators sought to produce a contemporary English Bible while maintaining a word-for-word translation style. In cases where word-for-word literalness was determined to be unacceptable for modern readers, changes were made in the direction of more current idioms. In such instances, the more literal renderings were indicated in footnotes.

The greatest perceived strength of the NAS Bible is its reliability and fidelity to the original languages, which, along with other literal translations, also allows for ambiguities in the text’s meaning.

FINDING INSPIRATION FOR LIFE

Let’s face it; with all the temptations in our lives, it’s too easy to lose sight of our faith. Christians have endured for centuries keeping God close to their hearts, and it’s important to make the Lord part of our lives. There are a number of ways for even the busiest people to keep God closer to their hearts and in their minds. For example, keeping a good Christian book on hand, even if the chance to read it only happens once a day for a few minutes, is a great idea. Christian books can help reunite us with God when we feel listless and alone. While having an NAS Bible on hand is great, Christian books written by other Christians can provide a new perspective on our faith. It’s nice to be able to relate to another Christian’s feelings when needed.

find all your Christian books at http://www.christianfamilysupply.com, even read reviews from other Christians. Borrowing books can also be a great way to engage your faith for people who are on a budget. You’ll also be able to discuss the book with your friends once you’ve read through it!

BIBLE STUDY TOOLS

Every Christian believer looks to the Bible for guidance as the authority for leading a meaningful life on Earth. Thus, Bible study tools are considered essentials in every Christian’s foundation of faith. Bible study guides and Bible reference materials help children and adults alike to learn more about the Good Book. By teaching kids the right lessons, you are equipping them to be responsible adults in the future.

Bible study tools incorporate Bible teachings in a fun way so that children and teens can learn more without feeling bored with “churchy” stuff. This is a great way to impart the basic sense of right and wrong as well as to teach life lessons using creative methods. Start children on a journey of self-discovery in positive ways as early as possible. Guide them in the right path by making sure they are introduced to the Bible early in life. To purchase your preferred translation go to: http://www.christianfamilysupply.com

INTERPRETING GOD’S WORD

The Bible is without a doubt the canonical text of the last several millennia, but because of its age, it’s not always easy to interpret. Even if you can understand every word you read, it’s also difficult to determine the exact message, or point that God is trying to communicate. Thus having a book with Bible commentaries is quite helpful. Respected scholars of both religion and the written word write Bible commentaries, and many even understand Latin or Hebrew, letting them interpret God’s word in its most purest form. If you’re interested in gaining insight into God’s word, owning a book of bible commentaries is a great idea.

Texts containing bible translation and commentary are available in hundreds of different editions, including the KJV Thompson reference bible, though in many cases newer editions will compile the best insights of past and present editions to create the most accurate or accepted interpretation. For a complete line of christian books visit: http://www.christianfamilysupply.com