David Koberstein
Active member
Hebrew words often shed new light on difficult sayings in the Bible and can even challenge our theology. They also employ delightful
imagery to illustrate their meaning, because few abstract words exist in the language. As a result, Hebrew is firmly rooted in the real
world of physical senses.
Without having the word stubborn, it uses "stiff-necked," evoking the image of an unwilling ox arching its neck to evade a yoke. Without
having the word stingy, Hebrew speaks of being "tight-fisted" or having a "bad eye"---being unable to see the needs of the person right
in front of you. Living without abstract terminology did not prevent the Bible writers from expressing profound thoughts; it inspired them
to paint colorful word pictures instead.
When Jacob's sons took advantage of a treaty to attack a Canaanite city, he chastised them by saying, "You have brought trouble on me
by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites" (Gen. 34:30). Hebrew speaks of being obnoxious
or repulsive by speaking of a person's "bad odor" or ba'sh (bah-AHSH). You may recall how in Egypt, when Moses first came to Pharaoh
to demand that he let his people go, Pharaoh increased Israel's workload instead. The elders of Israel confronted Moses by saying,
"The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their
hand to kill us" (Exod. 5:21). The stench of the fish that died after the Nile turned to blood was nothing compared to how Israel "smelled"
to the Egyptians!
Paul also used this graphic imagery when he told the Corinthians they were the "aroma" of Christ (the Messiah---"anointed one") to those
around him.
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge
of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one
a fragrance from death to death, and to the other fragrance from life to life. (2 Cor. 2:14-16).
Once again we find kingdom imagery, now of a "triumphal procession." After a war, the victors would lead their vanquished captives in a
glorious parade through the streets and burn fragrant incense along the way. Paul is saying that to the lost we are the stench of death,
but to those who are saved we are the life-giving fragrance of our richly anointed Messiah.
Paul was talking about a reality of life---you can conduct yourself in a Christlike way and still find yourself disliked, because others are
convicted by your behavior. This analogy has another side, though. The way you "smell" is the aroma Christ has to the world. If you're
habitually rude or dishonest, it can be a potent witness against Him. Whatever you do, don't be a stench!
Shalom
imagery to illustrate their meaning, because few abstract words exist in the language. As a result, Hebrew is firmly rooted in the real
world of physical senses.
Without having the word stubborn, it uses "stiff-necked," evoking the image of an unwilling ox arching its neck to evade a yoke. Without
having the word stingy, Hebrew speaks of being "tight-fisted" or having a "bad eye"---being unable to see the needs of the person right
in front of you. Living without abstract terminology did not prevent the Bible writers from expressing profound thoughts; it inspired them
to paint colorful word pictures instead.
When Jacob's sons took advantage of a treaty to attack a Canaanite city, he chastised them by saying, "You have brought trouble on me
by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites" (Gen. 34:30). Hebrew speaks of being obnoxious
or repulsive by speaking of a person's "bad odor" or ba'sh (bah-AHSH). You may recall how in Egypt, when Moses first came to Pharaoh
to demand that he let his people go, Pharaoh increased Israel's workload instead. The elders of Israel confronted Moses by saying,
"The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their
hand to kill us" (Exod. 5:21). The stench of the fish that died after the Nile turned to blood was nothing compared to how Israel "smelled"
to the Egyptians!
Paul also used this graphic imagery when he told the Corinthians they were the "aroma" of Christ (the Messiah---"anointed one") to those
around him.
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge
of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one
a fragrance from death to death, and to the other fragrance from life to life. (2 Cor. 2:14-16).
Once again we find kingdom imagery, now of a "triumphal procession." After a war, the victors would lead their vanquished captives in a
glorious parade through the streets and burn fragrant incense along the way. Paul is saying that to the lost we are the stench of death,
but to those who are saved we are the life-giving fragrance of our richly anointed Messiah.
Paul was talking about a reality of life---you can conduct yourself in a Christlike way and still find yourself disliked, because others are
convicted by your behavior. This analogy has another side, though. The way you "smell" is the aroma Christ has to the world. If you're
habitually rude or dishonest, it can be a potent witness against Him. Whatever you do, don't be a stench!
Shalom
