Aramaic Word Study – Deliver – Shazav – Shin Zayin Beth
Daniel 3:16-17: “Shadrach Meshach and Abednego answered and said unto the king, O’ Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. If it be so our God is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thy hand O king. But if not be it known unto thee O king that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.”
Ezekiel 37:4: “And he said unto me, Prophesy unto these bones and say: O’ ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.”
I was reading something very interesting in the Midrash (Song of Solomon Rabbah 8) with regard to Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a priest and prophet during the Babylonian exile. King Nebuchadnezzar had already executed some of the young men from the House of David because they were so handsome and the Babylonian women would fall head over heels for them. So, Nebuchadnezzar had them executed and their bodies mutilated and their bones scattered. The Talmud teaches that these were the dry bones of Ezekiel 37:4 and that this was not only a vision but reality as well. God actually instructed Ezekiel to speak to these dry bones and they would come together and live again. Not only was this a prophetic sign but it actually happened according to Jewish tradition. The Talmud goes further to teach that these now-resurrected men went on to marry and live a full life. Something that probably had old Nebuchadnezzar really pondering the reality of this Hebrew God.
Needless to say, such an event would have established Ezekiel as a prophet of God. The Midrash recounts the story of the three Hebrew young men thrown into the fiery furnace and that before they made their decision to defy Nebuchadnezzar, they consulted with Ezekiel. Ezekiel initially said he had no witness that the three Hebrews would escape the furnace if they defied Nebuchadnezzar nor did he have any witness that God would raise them from the dead. The men, however, decided to defy Nebuchadnezzar without any assurance that Ezekiel could raise them from the dead. After they left God spoke to Ezekiel and said that they would survive the ordeal, but Ezekiel was not to tell them this, God wanted them to take their stand without this knowledge.
This may explain the strange statement they made to Nebuchadnezzar that God would deliver them for Nebuchadnezzar‘s hand, but if not they would still not bow down before his idol. Actually, they are not saying God would deliver them out of the furnace, but out of the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. This passage is written in Aramaic and in verse 17 the word “deliver” is “shazav,” It is the grammar that gets a little confusing. In Aramaic, the yod before the zayin creates a sere yod rather than a chireq yod which we would have if the zayin came before the yod. This form actually intensifies the word. What this tells me is that this is intended to be a particle but rendered as a future tense not to show a time element but a sense of certainty. This leads me to believe they are speaking of a prior event and not one that is about to happen. The Talmud is not the inspired Word of God, but it may have some historical accuracy and the three Hebrews are really saying: “God is able to deliver us as He has already done with the other Hebrews you executed, If He took their dry bones and breathed life into them, then He can take three crispy critters and breath life into them.” Now, this would have really spooked poor Nebuchadnezzar out.
It is possible the three Hebrew youths went to Ezekiel to get assurance that he could raise them from the dead as he did their companions who were executed. After all, they were executed for their good looks, while these three Hebrews were facing execution for their faith, surely God would be more inclined to raise them from the dead. Yet, Ezekiel could not give them that assurance. Nonetheless, they were still determined to die rather than bow to the idol, even if God would not raise them from the dead like their companions.
If you have been following my little studies you know that I am on a journey to the heart of God, I find myself getting a little irritated over the fact that others, seemingly less devoted than I am are getting their prayers answered while I get apparently empty space from heaven in my prayers. I mean I sure would like a piece of that blessing pie. Here some nominal Christians seem to get these great miracles of healing and wealth while I, at the age of 72, still have to work a full-time job driving a disability bus to make ends meet. Just today I stood on the receiving end of an overflowing adult diaper as I was helping someone on my disability bus. The other day I had to pull into the drive-through car wash and wash out my bus where someone spilled their cookies. I found myself crying out, “Why God, do I have to do this stinking job (pun intended) when I have spent half my life studying your Word? Is it so much to ask for at least one stinking best-seller book so I can retire?”
Then I recalled how God took the dry sun-baked bones and breathed life into them. I know He can do the same for me if he chooses. But be it known to you dear reader and you O king of darkness, that I will not serve your god of despair and discouragement. I will not only clean up someone’s defilements but I will do it in the Name of the God who has blessed me at the age of 72 to be able to push a wheelchair than be the one in that chair. Not only that I can praise the Lord for the opportunity to share his love in a way I cannot share it behind my stack of research books and computer. I can do it by praying face-to-face with someone spilling their cookies. Take that you king behind King Nebuchadnezzar.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Hello Chaim, Be encouraged you labor not in vain! You bless us so much with this site and who knows how many prayers you answer daily at your job! Think of all the riches you have stored in heaven! My mum passed on at 72 and many more much younger than you… I listened to a sermon from Jim cantelon ‘God’s chosen fasting’.. He mentions how God called him to missionary work in Africa, he faced so many challenges… He told The Lord He wasn’t able to do this work unless The Lord gave Him the millions he needed to accomplish this challenging task work.. The Lord spoke to his heart saying ‘Jim if I gave you millions I would loose you, you do the work and let me take care of the bills’.. Please if you get the time.. Check out this testimony….it’s on You tube, he was a guest speaker at king of kings community Jerusalem..
May The Lord keep& bless you, Yes may He bless you much more in Yeshua The Messiah Amen
i very much appreciated the study, Chaim. Thank You❣️
Chaim, “Pa-ting” that is what happens when Our Father uses you. You hit the mark. We follow the One that has no degree from man and when the light shine on Him, He has all authority in heaven and earth replacing ha’ satan. Defeated. Whether I speak Engrish or Hebrew, He reads our heart. He knows his. He fixes the problem and cleans the mess up. Shalom.
Chaim, I hope to encourage you. When Jesus came and the Jews expected Him to set up His kingdom here and rule, all they got was a Servant. Him who once said, ‘the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head’. This tells me, the most faithful-work the hardest (but only here). I pray in agreement for a Best Seller that pays royalties so you can retire and write and enjoy the Lord all you want. Let’s sum it up to expect what we all want from the Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Just the article I needed this morning! Thank You Lord. There is an area of my life that wants me to sink into despair and discouragement but I am so encouraged by this Bible study this morning. God bless you.
ELOHIM Bless you Brother Chaim… “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” – Gal 6:9
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” – Heb 6:10
You are an inspiration to me :)
Shalom
Loved this, teacher. Thank you for the word and thank you for your kind hearted service. God bless you.
Thank you for sharing so openly and being vulnerable with us.
You are so loved and appreciated for your ministry.
Your heart for the Lord and people is a shining star and a beautiful example of a man with a heart after God!! A man God can trust with the riches of His love.
Even the smallest things never go unnoticed . One day the blurred vision will be removed .
Thank you
Chaim at 72 your grip is truly heard! I am a baby compared to you (46) and I sometimes have the same battle with the “lying desert wind” that whispers words of despair and discouragement.
I find shalom in the fact that I may not get the blessing here but imagine what your crown might look like. Imagine what your robe may look like. Imagine what the praise party held just for you and your faithfulness would be like.
$1,000,000 could never compare. Earthly recognition hmmmmmm what of it?!?
Your work with the daily studies and with the elderly is far greater than anything you do because you do it for and with YHWH!!
Thank you my brother. Thank you.
All the way from the Caribbean, Thank you!
Wow brother!!! Wow!!! I am weeping!!! I am 70….. and I can so relate to you… though I am so far beneath you in knowledge and life accomplishments brother. But I believe I am right beside you in heart. I would so love to share some things with you. The timing that I read this is testament to the anointing that was on it for me brother. He used it to “re”mind me.
I feel your pain. I’ve experienced similar issues. I feel like the Lord led me years ago to His heart, Isaiah 58 – what He cares about. The way up is down. Shalom and keep on keeping on.
Thank you… for mining the depths of “reality”, and bringing to light the treasures of darkness… You have been purchased for a great price and your worth has not escaped the eyes of heaven. Our Lord either left us clutching the empty grave clothes or His robe to gamble over – either way we are called to lift up our eyes to that which is beyond all dashed hopes and dreams… the source of all that is seen and touched… seen only with the eyes of our heart… Blessings!!!
Asking the King to send you a surprise blessing straight from His strong right hand today❤️
PS This study was a fun twist to the dry bones…thanks!
Thank you for your message. It has lifted me up and reminded me that even if we can’t see the work God is doing in our lives we can rest faithfully in knowing he is at work where we can not see. We will not serve the king of discontentment and discouragement. Stay encouraged and thank you for encouraging me!
Hello Chaim, Be encouraged you labor not in vain! You bless us so much with this site and who knows how many prayers you answer daily at your job! Think of all the riches you have stored in heaven! My mum passed on at 72 and many more much younger than you… I listened to a sermon from Jim cantelon ‘God’s chosen fasting’.. He mentions how God called him to missionary work in Africa, he faced so many challenges… He told The Lord He wasn’t able to do this work unless The Lord gave Him the millions he needed to accomplish this challenging task work.. The Lord spoke to his heart saying ‘Jim if I gave you millions I would loose you, you do the work and let me take care of the bills’.. Please if you get the time.. Check out this testimony….it’s on You tube, he was a guest speaker at king of kings community Jerusalem..
May The Lord keep& bless you, Yes may He bless you much more in Yeshua The Messiah Amen
shin-zayin-bet works better when the yod is reinserted, as in the Hebrew version of Daniel 3:16, namely shin-yod-zayin-bet.
we have the pairs shin (holiness)-yod (becoming), which is the promise of holiness and zayin (seeding)-bet (birth), which is the activation of the birth process. Feels more like deliverance from death by fire.
Good morning Chaim. This is very enlightening and encouraging. My brother may Gods continue to give you insights into his word. Blessings and good health.
It’s in the stench of our lives, we get the opportunity to smell The Sweetness Of God’s Love. Thank you for sharing a realty that we often overlook during our pity parties. Shalom Rav
Now that is some fantastic teaching and testimony…covering all the bases. Enemy has absolutely no place here whether God sits and watches or actively participates as we think He should. Praise God!!!