Aramaic Word Study – Lawyers – Saphra : Samek Pei Resh Aleph
(This Word Study is excerpted from Chaim Bentorah’s book: Aramaic Word Study: Exploring The Language Of The New Testament)
Luke 11:52: “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves and them that were entering in ye hindered.”
Some translations says: “Woe to you experts in law,” others say “law scholars” or “teachers in law.” The word in Greek is nomikois which is one who is an expert in the law. In the Aramaic the word is saphra where we get the word scribe. The Scribes were the lawyers of their day. The Pharisees learned from the scribes. It is the scribes who knew how to read and write. Not all Pharisees knew how to read or write. Thus the interpretation of Scripture came mainly from the scribes who knew their advantage. They knew how to read where others didn’t, so if you did not know how to read, you would never dare to contradict a scribe’s interpretation because there would be no way for you to disprove a scribe’s interpretation.
Unlike nomikois, saphra not only referred to a scribe but to anyone who was literate and able to read and write. Thus, someone like Paul who was not really a scribe but he knew how to read and write was a saphra and until Jesus shined a light on him, we all know how messed up his theology was. The lesson here is that just because someone portrays himself as a Bible scholar does not mean he is accurate in his interpretation. I confess I have pulled my Ph.D. card a number of times to win an argument. If the persons or people in the discussion group did not have a Ph.D. and spent 40 years studying Biblical Languages every day for a minimum of three to four hours they will usually acquiesce to my argument. I will tell you my dirty little secret only because I am not the only one doing this. Just let Toto pull back that curtain for a moment and you will see that this great Hebrew Wizard is really just a friendly old man holding his kingdom together with a lot of bluff and bluster. Just like the scribe has the advantage over others because he was literate I have an advantage because I’m literate in the Biblical languages. Only someone else who has studied the Biblical languages would dare call me out and if they do it’s a fight to see who has the better grasp of the language.
Once someone tells me of personal insight, if I say; “Well, that is not quite right because in the Hebrew…” Did I just take away what Jesus calls the key of knowledge for this person? The word key in Aramaic is qalida which means to lock up, to make something disappear. Jesus said that these saphras had the ability to make knowledge disappear by simply saying: “I can read Scripture and you can’t Na Na Na Na.” Yet God has a way of revealing Himself to people and the Holy Spirit will guide them to the truth. But someone, a pastor, a teacher, a Christian leader, or even Chaim Bentorah who has studied in a Bible College and/or Seminary intimidates someone who has no background other than being self-taught and causes them to bow to this saphra then they will assume the knowledge they received from the Holy Spirit is wrong. This is what Jesus is condemning. God can reveal His Scriptures and knowledge without the help of people with their fancy degrees and titles. Thank you very much. I conduct a Bible Study on Saturday mornings and as far as I know, none of the participants have a Bible School background. Yet, I am amazed at the wisdom that is shared. I even share their ideas with others (based upon the fact that they likely share mine).
Jesus further states to the scribes that “you withhold knowledge that you have not even entered into yourselves.” That means talking about something you know nothing about. Alexander Pope said; “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” I have heard Christians who claim to have studied Hebrew say that the word Elohim is plural and thus in Genesis 1:1 where God is plural it is addressing the Godhead, the trinity. Such a statement shows their knowledge of grammatical rules is sorely lacking. Worse, by using their “look how smart I am” card they will hinder someone who has no knowledge of Biblical languages from entering into a personal revelation that God wants to reveal to them. They have to fact-check God with a human snake oil salesman.
Jesus said one final thing: “…and them that were entering in ye hindered.” What Jesus was telling the saphars He is also telling me and you who are learning Hebrew through our All Access, you can prevent people from entering knowledge that you have not even searched out yourself just by flashing a certificate saying you finished a Hebrew course. All true knowledge comes from God not from Chaim Bentorah or you.
(This Word Study is excerpted from Chaim Bentorah’s book: Aramaic Word Study: Exploring The Language Of The New Testament)
Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
I appreciate your wisdom! Of course, I consider you an expert and a keeper of the word of God, and your humility and honesty convince me that you are not anything like the scribes. I also appreciate your connecting Paul to the word saphar. I had never thought of that before, but it certainly enlarges my mental picture of his capacity to disseminate and interpret the word of God. May the Lord continue to shine his light upon you. We need you.
Dear Chaim and teachers,
Explain the Hebrew grammatical rules concerning the use of the plural Elohim in Gen.1:1.
Blessings, Geoff