There’s no “I am” in Hebrew

There’s no I am in Hebrew. Well, not exactly… Got into a conversation some time ago on Google+ about a verse in the Bible which is often translated along the lines of “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). … Continue reading →

Hebrew roots – they don’t always do what you expect

There’s something that I’ve found really perplexing in conversations about Hebrew with English speakers, and I think I’ve finally got it. Last night I was talking to an English speaker online about the word “bara”, the Hebrew word in Genesis … Continue reading →

Why my new year greeting comes without an L

The Jewish new year began on Sunday evening, and people have been kindly wishing me L’shana tova – which I accept with thanks, because I know it comes with good intentions. This post is by no means intended as criticism … Continue reading →

Neighbours, friends, and fellow humans

Love your neighbour as you love yourself, the Bible says – at least that’s what most English translations say. I don’t know why the Hebrew word “rea” (pronounced: ré-a) has been translated as “neighbour”, it’s a word which can be … Continue reading →

A sadly common error in Christian circles

Forgetting that you’re reading a translation – my latest Church Laundry rant.

omg, to die for

Hanukkah starts this evening, and we’ll be lighting pretty candles and thanking God for his great miracles. But this year I decided to do something I’d never done before, and I’ve started reading through the book of Maccabees, refreshing my … Continue reading →