HEBREW WORD STUDY – LICKING THE TWINKIE WRAPPER – QALAL קלל Qop Sade Hei
Numbers 21:3-5: “And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah. (4) And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. (5) And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”
My first impression as I read these three verses is that this is truly amazing. Here God gives them a great military victory against the seasoned warriors of Canaan. The Israelites were themselves unskilled, untrained and unequipped for warfare. Such an amazing victory. But they had also just come out of many difficulties and discouragements on their way to Canaan. Now after this battle with Canaan they were being held back by the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, their brothers. They were refused passage through the country of the Edomites and forced to retreat back southward and then turn again eastward and take a round about away by the territories of the Moabites. They began to despair if they would ever reach the Promised Land. Instead of rejoicing over the great miracle of the victory over the Canaanites, they concluded that this was now their great turn of events, they would now speedily make their way to the Promised Land only to run into another obstacle and being forced to turn back. Surely, they now had proof of God’s favor, why must they retreat and delay entry into Promised Land. Perhaps there was no Promised Land. There was no land flowing with milk and honey. Instead, they had to continue eating that blasted manna.
Actually, the English words in verse 5 do not begin to express their disappointment. The KJV says: “Our soul loath this light bread.” This is speaking of God’s miraculous provision of the perfect food, manna from heaven. Food that gave them excellent nourishment and strength to travel on so many journeys. Their weariness was not physical, but mental. Their declaration about this great daily gift from God is that the loathed it. Actually, the KJV is being very polite. When we see how it reads in the Hebrew it is much more disgusting and insulting to God. The NIV says: “We detest this miserable food.” The Living Bible renders it: “We hate this horrible food.” ESV “We loath this worthless food.” Berean “We detest this wretched food.” Contemporary Bible: “We can’t stand this awful food.” ISV: “We’re tired of this worthless food.” How about God’s Word Translation: “We can’t stand this awful food.”
The words in Hebrew are: napheshenu qatsah balechem haqeloqel. As you can see by the many different ways this is translated that translators really have a problem expressing what the original text is trying to convey. Just for the record, to add my two cents worth, I would translate this as holding up this manna to God, this manna that He has faithfully and lovingly provided throughout their journey and saying: “Yuk?!!!!!!!” To further paraphrase by putting this into an emotional context, they are literally saying to God: “We’re your children and this is the best you’ve got for us? Our slave masters in Egypt treated us better than this.
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
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Two key words in this phrase that the translators struggled with, the word for loath which is qatsah and the word for light which is haqeloqel. The word qatsah in its Semitic root means to scrape off the top layer, like peeling an orange, you usually throw the peel away. It is sort of like when you were a kid at lunch time in grammar school and your best friend pulls a package of Twinkies out of his lunch bag and instead of giving you one of the Twinkies he eats them both and gives you the wrapper to lick. In other words they were calling God a Divine Cheapskate. What did they call this manna or bread, they called it haqelogel. This comes from the root word qalal which means little but in the sense of being worthless. It is diminishing the value of something. It was actually used as a curse word in that day. Sort of like we would say today day: “That bread is a piece of sh-t.” Now you know why translators have a problem translating this phrase. You may also understand why God sent fiery serpents after this little event.
Imagine how a mother would feel after her child was sick with “Canaanite” fever and nursed him back to health defeating that Canaanite fever and then she loving prepares her child a meal and the child sticks his nose in the air and says: “All I get is this piece of sh-t? Is that the best you can do?” That would definitely break the mother’s heart.
Of course, we would never do that to God. You maybe but I did. It is Christmas time a time when my books really see a bounce in sales, much like any retail business does. Like the retail business you plan on it and figure out how you are going to use that bonus. Well, that expected bounce went the other way and not only fell flat but dug a big hole. Boy, did I go into a funk. Then to this loving God who gave me the opportunity and ability to write these books, who filled me with the guidance and knowledge to write these books and lovingly provided publishers for these books I cried out to Him hagelogel and qatsah, well not maybe to the nastiness of qalal. I basically said; “God is that best you can do? I surely deserve better sales. I mean Johnnie Cahan down the street made a million dollars off of just one book you gave him, couldn’t you squeeze at least a couple hundred dollars worth of royalties from that royal throne of yours?”
So this morning as I sat back and asked; “Well, God what do you want me to write about today?”
I know this was meant for me but I thought maybe there is someone else out there who is just as insensitive, self centered, greedy, like myself, who doesn’t appreciate the many blessings from God, that they might get the same “pleasure” from this study.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Thank you for reminding me of my selfishness. I must always be aware that I receive His blessings every second of every day.
Thank you for your transparency and honesty. I, too, have not appreciated God’s abundant blessings. I have compared my situation to others and felt that God was holding out on me. Why isn’t He helping me more? Perhaps, I just need to be more thankful for what He has already provided me. A new life in Christ.
Blessings to you! May God give you more favor and enlarge your territory!
What is the meaning of lightning in Hebrew?
I can relate to how you feel. I know God has plans to prosper me and not to harm me. I know things about God and trust in His goodness. But what I feel is wretched and worthless. I have taken down some giants, like disease, but have yet to take down others. There is a blessing in what looks like defeat or failure because we cannot see what God can see. I cannot relate to angst over book sales or speaking gigs, for I care not that my one book even gets published. But there are things near and dear to my heart that are absent and this makes me want to give up this walk with Jesus. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and a few people who love me unconditionally but I do want more than this. And wanting more is not helping me. I am learning to give thanks for what I have and to let the Lord give me what He will while also learning to take down the giants attacking my mind that steal peace, love and joy! We are in a battle. My enemy looks different than yours but if we claim Christ, we battle, and only God’s armor works and we have to put it on everyday as we walk on water. I wanted to sell a couch and instead I got a battle with some Middle Eastern crook who was trying to get its dirty hands into my bank account. I failed to put my armor on before I went on Craigslist.
Hi Sarah this is Rita I hope I am doing the right thing here. You sound as though there is more to what you already know. Yes you might be short of the Holy Spirit, I know that was how I felt there is something more I am missing it was Him the precious Holy Spirit. Just invite him to fellowship with you on a daily basis bring Him into your daily life. He is a person and is waiting on you to acknowledge and get to know Him.
Thank you my Dear Teacher . You described me very well .I not only ate the two twinkies I licked the wrapper .
When I read the Bible I see my own life story written within it’s pages . I have had my own pharaohs ,my own golden calf moments and I have crawled into the viper’s nest and God would drag me out and I would slither right back in and I got bitten and bitten hard ,but God never gave up trying to reach me. Three things I ask God is to know Him as He truly is , to have a greater understanding of His word and to help me understand the people He dearly loves . I believe all of God’s people is what is in His heart and each person’s aura is glowing with a rainbow of color. This is my “Rainbow Connection ” !
My prayers are for all of you and that you all stay safe and well.
I am so grateful for Chaim Bentorah! Your books have opened my heart to the heart of God.
This was a gift to me today.my husband went home to Jesus 2 years ago today. I have felt cheated of time with him….even though God did a big miracle in our lives. Reading this is the nudge I needed to focus on the truth that My husband going home is The Best for him. God always does the Best for me…us.
Yes I’ve with you there. Sometimes I get into a pity party and said some pretty hatful things and was reminded that is the flesh. Then I pleaded for forgiveness and am still in the detention center.
But there is always a promise with repenting and God never fails.
Now you know what to pray for when it comes to me 😀
You are pure G.O.L.D.
thank you.
Love it!
This touched my life so much especially to hear it expressed this way. Brother don’t let hope die and if it has then ask Yahweh-Yahshua to bring hope back to Life in Your hear and don’t lose the Joy that Only Yahweh-Yahshua could ever bring no matter what!
Chaim you are to good. God has blessed you with great communication skills. I’ll be laughing about the”fiery snake’s and your book sales”for a long time to come.
It’s like you were going through my brain 😂🧠. Funny funny 🤪
Wow it made me cry. To think at times in my life I have not went to the extent of qalal …….. but I have not been thankful and at times ignored the gift from the Giver. Oh my I love learning these words digging deeper into what Gods word says.
Please don’t stop writing and sharing what God gives you. Thank you
I love ya Brother, you’re a HUMBLE man! God loves ya for who YOU are, He knows the love you have for Him!
Dare I say that He has spoiled us?
David
Thanks, Chaim. I have been reminded about this very thing recently when being whiney about this Arctic weather. God provided heat, just one small space of time with no heat, & I didn’t realize what a big deal that was until hearing about my Texas neighbors with no power all week. He is so merciful!
Wow. This was for me. I have done this. “Really, God!?! Is that all You’ve got?” I’m always sorry when I let myself walk down that path of thinking. I imagine it has something to do with the spiritual warfare around being carnally minded instead of spiritually minded. Thanks for writing this. “Licking the Twinkie wrapper.” LOL.
Sigh…. humankind is always weak in faith. Faith indeed is the most important thing to learn in life. It is the only thing that destroy the fear of failure,sickness and death. Never stop learning on faith ! Chaim reminded me to keep faith up by this Manna incident . Those who keeps learning faith will SEE that Manna was called ANGEL’S FOOD ( Psalm 78 : 25) !
Likewise,we should SEE that we are being REFINED as gold by the Lord through life events that need living by faith and not by sight .
Let’s SEE angel’s food in manna,and refining journey in challenges !
Thank you Chaim !
I think God let me see another aspect of Himself through this article. I understand that feeling when you have given all you have to help someone and they are not grateful. It is a terrible feeling. I’ve become angry and lashed out because of it to my regret. But to know that God gets angry too enough to send biting snakes for ungratefulness gives me hope that I’m forgiven and no longer have to feel guilty. It also makes me realize more acutely the scripture, “we are made in His image” I will be more thankful and less guilty from now on. Thanks
Hahaha – this is BRILLIANT!