ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – A HIGHER PRAISE – TESHABUCHATAH תשׁביחתה
Romans 15:7: “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
For years I heard this verse and my mind just slipped right over it. Many modern translations say receive one another but there is an equal number who say accept one another. The word in the Greek is proslambanesthe which means to take a hold of or to embrace. I think that is more than just receiving someone, I see it more as an acceptance.
As one who has Asperger’s Syndrome I find I am received in a church but rarely am I accepted. On top of that once a pastor finds out my background in Biblical languages I really don’t feel accepted, I am received, but not accepted. So for personal reasons, I side with the translations that use the word accepted, but I can see where one can see little difference in being received and being accepted. I guess it is an Aspie thing. The word in Aramaic is maqravi vatalanu lachadad which roughly translated means to approach someone and carry their burden. That is more than just receiving someone and welcoming them, it asks if there is anything they need, anything they can do for them. I have visited many churches in my lifetime desperately hoping to find at least one church where someone did not care that I did not like to be touched, could not look them in the eye and struggle to find words to speak, let alone words that fit the topic they bring up. No one, no one ever asked me if there was anything they could do for me. I would have immediately answered that I was on the (autism) spectrum and it was just so very hard to walk from my car through the door of the church. I would be willing to show up every Sunday at exactly the same time and stand on the sidewalk. If someone could just commit to come and walk with me to the door, I would be there every Sunday. Yet, no one ever asked to help. I would struggle very hard and manage to make it every Sunday for a few months but after a few months of sitting alone and no one ever talking with me, I would drift away. No one ever called to ask how I was doing, why I hadn’t attended for a while or was there anything they could do that would help me attend. I would have told them, ”Just meet me on the sidewalk outside the church and walk with me through the doors.” To me being received means they allowed me in the church, but being accepted meant someone took the effort to walk with me to the door.
If someone had done this little thing for me, you know what Paul is saying? He is saying it is a glory to God. Every Modern Translation I read says glory and for good reason, it is the word doxa in the Greek which means glory. However, in the Aramaic, Paul’s native language and what he was most likely thinking, it is the word teshabuchatah which comes from the root word shavach which means to praise. In the Akkadian, it means to be at rest or to be satisfied.
To reach out to someone who is different, I don’t mean different like someone in a wheelchair or who is blind. Ushers will trip over each other to help such a person out. I mean someone with no apparent disability but are just different, homeless, a bum, the way they dress, smell, look or speak. The one that strikes you as: “Hoo, boy another loser, he’ll be begging for money, or wanting all sorts of help.” Nobody wants to deal with a loser or a kook. A physically disabled person, yes, but not a kook or Aspie like maybe Chaim Bentorah. But if you do ask that simple question; “Is there anything I can do for you, help you.” Paul says that you are offering a praise to God, a praise that brings Him satisfaction. A praise to God just as much as lifting your hands and singing some “I like God” song. In fact, it is a higher praise to God that standing for 45 minutes listening to a worship team sing the same song over and over. God’s not too impressed with our endurance nor is He that needful that he has to hear you say: “I praise you.” a few dozen times. God may have sent a person, like that strange fellow who can’t even walk through the church doors alone named Chaim Bentorah to encourage you to a higher praise.
I also want to thank you for your honesty and your wonderful studies all the time. I do recognize all these problems in all ways. it made me bitter once. but not anymore after the dephts of the character of Our Savior. You really are saving lives here and I do know that you will find Him in each and every way. This is a gift for so many people whom are struggling in life because of ancestor bloodlines and even suicidal problems. I pray that He will continue these Works through you guided by His Mighty Hand.
I made this little poem just now after reading this.
In Your Heart to find
Dwelling Place to hear Your Calls
Wings for flying home
Elohim my Eternal Rest.
I am posting the daily prayers on my personal website.
It is for people in my family and ancestor bloodlines whom are bounded to satan still. Bracha of your sister in the Netherlands.
Dear Chaim,
I would like you to know how timely this lesson was for my family. I have learning disabilities and my youngest daughter is grown and she has borderline Asperger’s syndrome. We have often been the one left alone at school or at functions. My solution since I was in my twenties was to look for the person sitting by themselves. Most of the time they were so grateful that someone spoke to them that we became friends. My husband was in the military and we have moved 18 times. So this has been an on going experience for me. To go into a strange place and have to meet new people. It is very, very hard.
Now to your lesson the phrase to approach some and carry their burden. This is what I needed to show members of my family and my rabbi at my messianic church.
For over a year a young woman has been attending services regularly . After the July 4th weekend , she looked terrible. When I found out that she was out of work and sleeping in her car. Without thinking I told her to come stay with us. The rest of the family was not thrilled. But she was obviously in crisis. She is still with us. We helped her find clothes to wear to interviews, and now she has a job. How long she will keep it will be in God’s hands. She definitely shows signs of having of autism. That is why she has never been able to keep a job. Fortunately there is one supervisor who has taken her under his wing. What saved her from being fired was her crying to him that the lady she is staying with thinks I have Asperger’s. That changed everything, for that man has a child who has autism. He recognized what I had seen. It explained a lot. Oh !!! How wonderful to see God’s guiding hand.
I have spent hours and hours listening to this young lady’s life story. The night she finally realized or accepted that she had Asperger’s, she was feeling very hopeless. She wanted to just end it all she thought she was useless . That is when I got one of your books out. We had been reading it together on a regular basis since she had arrived. She had really liked your lessons. It was the first time she had learned about God’s love. I told her that here was an expert Hebrew teacher and author. Chaim had Asperger’s and thousands of people have been touched by his writing daily. No one had ever told her that Asperger’s people can be very talented. She had only been called names and beatened because they thought there was something wrong with her attitude. Knowing that you Chaim had Asperger’s gave this young lady hope.
Now I am going to battle to find someone to test her and maybe get some government assistance. She can not do this alone and neither can my husband and I. So I will give this lesson to the elders at church before I asked them to help more with this young lady.
One other thing this young lady reads the Bible literally. She is arguing that scriptures say the earth is flat. We have agreed to disagree. I would like to know how you would respond to this idea.
Chaim , thank you for opening up and sharing your life struggles. You are making a difference in so many lives. May the Lord bless you and bring many people to walk with you.
Thank you very much Chaim for your daily word studies. You are a gift to all of us.
For this old vessel your post speaks to the heart of the Micah 6:8 meaning.
Over the past twelve months have been “listening” to the heart cries of others and working on Micah 6:8 on what it truly means to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before God. Recently, a person with a handicap was booted out of Messianic congregation. God used me to shine His Word before the leadership in defense of this person. They even wanted to do a ‘bait den’ on this person. What God really wanted was for His love and acceptance to prevail. God forgive me for saying this, instead, they maligned this individual. Thank you for sharing about your personal life. Joy and blessings to you dear brother Chaim.
Thankyou Chaim Bentorah for sharing your story to bring the true meaning of this scripture verse into the light for me . I look forward everyday to read your emails . May God continue to bless others through you as He has blessed me . I will never forget this teaching .
Thank you. This was a very powerful lesson for me. Hearing it from your perspective was very eye opening. Is there anything I can do for you? May you be blessed by our loving Father.
I am so sorry that no one has ever asked you how they can help you? I was stunned reading this, as the church I am so blessed to attend, is so loving; it is my family. We are there to help one another, regardless of how big or small the issue. I believe as Christians, that is what we are compelled to do, not out of obligation, but because of what has been done for us.
If you are ever in Maine, I want you to look me up or at least, Maine Street Baptist Church. You too may find it to become your family.
God Bless you,
Jane
Chaim, I am blessed by all of your writings. However, this one touched me in a way that I cannot explain. Thank you for being so transparent! My experience is polar to yours, as it relates to being accepted. In fact, when I arrive at certain places, invariably there is someone present and in position who knows me. Consequently, without seeking it, I am escorted to preferred seating (a seat someone else would definitely prefer).
It’s not that way everywhere I go, because I as a preacher, who happens to be female, there are male dominated arenas where I am not welcomed. I don’t debate about it. I just made reference to that fact in regards to the aforementioned statement.
Yet, I have a seven year-old grandson with Asperger’s Syndrome. I am concerned about his not being accepted at school, even now. I don’t know if it’s that way yet, but I’m thinking in terms of his future. He is brilliant in many areas. But, he stays to himself, which I understand is characteristic persons with autism.
You are brilliant also. I never would have thought this to be your experience in life. Thank you for sharing.
Love you! Thanks for your insight each day! Wish I was there to walk you
through the door into the church… I will just pass it on looking for those to
help around me. Maybe that can give you power knowing you helped
someone else.
Chaim, I would love to meet you and walk you inside my church. I’m not an official member but I go most sundays. Christ church of Oakbrook. I don’t think that’s too far for you. (31st and York road). Let me know!!
Channing Hesse
Hey Chaim, What you have expressed made me very sad. I have experienced a similar situation but for a different cause. Not, as is expressed, accepting. I want to encourage you though to continue in what you do best. Show me what is being said in the original languages. fantastic mate. Love it..
Thank you Chaim for a beautiful piece of writing and for being so open. I also get your amazing gift to give to us the depths of meaning of Hebrew and Aramaic.
My son has Aspergers syndrome, I have an idea of how life is for you.
God works through your work.
Thanks for the information on today’s word study. I think the problem with people not relating with you is just a lack of education about autism in general and Asperger’s Syndrome in particular. You say you don’t like to be touched and it is difficult to look people in the eye, and it’s hard for you to find the right words to speak. I just never understood the problem before, or how to deal with it. It just seems as though the one with Aspy doesn’t want contact with other people so we just don’t know how to make them feel welcome. Your comments were very enlightening, if I ever have the opportunity to engage with you or other Aspys I will know how. Thank you very much!
Thank Chaim. This is just to let you know my wife and I read your daily word studies and really enjoy them. They have helped us see God and the Old Testiment in a new way.
Thank you; whoa! So very very true.
Thank you especially for this post. We have a 10 year old Aspie grandchild. He is very high level. He loves Jesus but does not like church. While he has been a gift and a challenge, he’s the joy of my heart. I enjoy learning and hearing about his world from someone who understands. Thank you for sharing your inner feelings.