I am indebted to Rex and Jan Frazier via Mike Girdler for the research behind this article.
In order to properly understand Scripture, we must learn to see through Hebrew eyes, to grasp the Hebrew perspective, to think from Hebrew structures. This is a major mental shift.
| West. . . | to | . . .East |
| Greek. . . | to | . . .Hebrew |
We have to avoid imposing our thought patterns from Western Civilization. Bear in mind that neither is superior, and that to some degree, each culture was capable of shifting to the other's perspective. What we are describing here is what you would notice if you compared the two.
1. Greek vs. Hebrew mind and language
A. Analytical versus Holistic
- concern with parts versus concern with the whole
- scientific versus poetic
- asking "how?" versus asking "why?"
- seeking cause versus seeking meaning
- asking origins versus asking destiny
- thought versus feelings and intuition
- reason versus imagination
- the natural versus the super-natural
- technology versus theology
B. Abstract versus Pictorial
- defines versus describes
- mental versus sensory
- literal versus figurative and symbolic
- symmetrical versus non-symmetrical
- investigative versus comfortable with mystery
C. Philosophical versus Concrete
- conceptual versus celebrative
- the general versus the particular
- the ideal versus the real
- speculative versus experiential
- unemotional versus evocative
- impersonal versus personal
- detached versus involved
- static versus dynamic
- conclusive versus indicative
2. Examples of contrasts in terms and statements
A. God:
- "Ultimate Being" versus "God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob"
- "Prime Mover" versus "God & Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ"
B. A rose:
- petals, pistil, stamen versus a gift, a thing of beauty
- something to be studied and examined versus something to be celebrated and enjoyed while it lives (ephemeral)
C. Parenting:
- The socio-pshychological impact of parents: both male imprint of father and the female imprint of the mother has a profound and determining influence on the direction and mind-set of the off-spring.
- If a father eats onion, and the mother eats garlic, the child will not smell of perfume.
3. Obstacles to understanding the Bible
| When you are hung up on: | You need to perceive: |
|---|---|
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Hebrew or biblical thought is....
1. Holistic seeing life as a whole, not just a collection of parts.
"A rose is a rose is a rose" (Gertrude Stein) and not just parts with names that we can study and memorize.
2. Pictorial seeing truth in terms of vivid imagery. It may sound extreme to Western ears, but it is not in abstract terms.
"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes; for He comes to judge the earth." Psalm 96.11-13
3. Concrete seeing specific persons, times, events and happenings as vehicles of God's Truth, Power, Love, Presence, etc. There are no generalizations about God's existence or being.
"I am the Lord your God who led you out fo the land of Egypt, out of the House of Bondage." Exodus 20:1