Hebrew Word Study – Swarm (Fellowship) – ‘Arob – עָרֹב Ayin Resh Beth
Acts 2:42: “And they devoted themselves in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, was an extremely educated person. He was of Greek origin educated in the Hellenistic city of Antioch. He studied Greek philosophy, medicine and art. Tradition holds he made paintings of Peter and Paul and was the founder of Christian iconography. So what amazes me about Acts 2:42 is that someone who is so steeped in the Greek culture and Greek language would write this verse in a very Aramaic style. In Greek as in English, we would write this passage as “And they devoted themselves in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and in prayers.” The Greek and English would not repeat the word “and.” We just stick a comma after each word in a series and stick the “and” at the end. In the Aramaic, as like the Hebrew, you use an “and” or a conjunction after each word in a series as Luke does here. Luke could very well have written the Book of Acts in Aramaic as he was addressing an Aramaic speaking audience.
The word for fellowship in Hebrew is ‘arob and in the Aramaic it is shauteph. Both words are agricultural words used for the swarming of insects that would devour a crop. Insects swarm for protection. When the Nile River in the Middle East would overflow, it would kill off a single fire ant. However, in time of flood thousands of fire ants link themselves together to form a raft. By doing this they would not drown as the would if they tried to navigate those waters on their own. I believe that is why the Aramaic Bible, the Peshitta, uses the word shauteph for fellowship.
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Throughout the history of the Jewish people shauteph was their means of survival. When troubles came they would link up with each other, young and old, married and single, women and men and share each other’s burden, like those fire ants. They formed one massive family and together they were able to survive throughout a history of persecution.
Many Christians today are questioning why they should go to church. They listen to music that they really do not like, they hear sermons that they have heard all their lives and they just go through a door, sit down, get a little show and get up and leave. Churches, in order to maintain their congregations seek to provide music they would attract the most people, they seek to give sermons that would appeal to a wide audience and they may have small group activities such as women or men only Bible studies, children programs, singles only programs and teenage programs. Again, you come and go and never really develop an overall sense of community.
But if persecution or trouble arises these separate little bands will discover their real reason for coming together, they will shauteph, join hands, link up with each other, young and old, male and female, singles and married and form one large life raft so that no one person would flounder. It is then that they will discover what real fellowship means. They will not come together because they like certain music, they will not come together to play soft ball or have a pot luck dinner, they will come together to survive and the one ingredient that brings them together is their mutual love for Jesus.
I drove a woman in my disability bus to her church the other day where she met with a few other ladies to put together little toys for the children in the her church to play with during the service. As we talked I learned she was a real born again Christian who loved Jesus with all her heart. She then bemoaned the fact that her church was a mainline liberal church and her pastor did not even believe the Bible was inspired and questioned the deity of Jesus. Like the good Baptist that I am I asked her why she did not join a Bible believing church. She then said that she had many friends in this church who also loved Jesus and when her husband passed away the church came together for her, supported her and helped her through that difficult time. She said: “I could never leave them.” Her faith in God is firm, but what she really needs is shauteph which she has found.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Hard times brings the best or worst out in people. Great rendering Chaim
These word studies give such richness to my reading of God’s word! Thank you! May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He shine His face upon you and give you Shalom.
After not attending a “church ” for many years, my wife and I decided to start again. We also started attending a small group geared towards the “not so young”. Do we learn anything or receive new insight? Not really. I actually receive more insight by studying the Bible or reading Chaim’s books. So why spend time going to these activities; being around people. I have realized most believers have little interest in actual studying the Word and would rather let somebody else read or tell them something. This way my conscience is soothed. But there is an emotional strength in meeting someone new or attending a small group and getting involved in others lives. I believe one of the moves of the enemy is to keep believers isolated from other believers. One hugh mistake is to attend a congregation each week and never meet or talk to someone new. I believe a person who does this feels even more lonely than if they had never attended. We were not created to be loners. Each Sunday my wife and I try and meet someone new. This makes it more enjoyable when attending the next week. If I want to meet someone new I have to present myself as someone who wants to meet someone. All it takes is a sincere smile and the word “hi” to open the door for a new friendship. Chaim, this was very good and I believe if the “loner ” reading your insight would open themselves to others, their lives would be greatly enriched.
Thank you Michael. This resonated with me so strongly I am quite excited about getting to know more people at my church.
Thank you again for a much appreciated lesson!
I think I would have asked that lady if her Church prayed for the pastor to see the Light and if he didn’t then perhaps they should seek a new pastor!
There are many people that can’t attend church because of their physical condition. I see no harm in going to online services. Many of these online services have outreach programs. They keep in touch in various ways and have multiple help programs. A phone call to a person can be in some cases better than a visit when you are weak
As a very wise man said that more people are driven from church by mean spirited people than should be. Believe me I’ve met some of those people that were in my former church as well as some teachers that I have known!
I love your Word Studies as they take me to a deeper walk with God.
Please never take my rebuttals as disagreements.
Earlier today, I listened to a video entitled ‘The power of a quiet life’. That video talks about Jesus never looking for the crowd, as many of us do today. We want the volume of ‘friends’ more than a relationship with God.
Many times He told someone not to tell about the miracle He performed. Or He’d get alone to talk to the Father.
He did indeed fellowship with others, not for the sake of getting together as much as devoting Himself in sharing truth and grace.
If you’re not all traveling in the same direction, especially with your teacher, where does shauteph come into form?
I’ve attended a church in Tinley Park for the past 32 yrs. Many times some have gotten together as a clique to talk against the pastor. During these times, our congregation would split and downsize. Our pastor has since retired, but before he left, he seemed sort of bitter toward the congregation. The church has helped me through hard times [also] though I often wonder about their sincerity.
I remain faithful [in service] to God as I serve people because He alone is the One who remained and is faithful.
That is Soo God/good and what a blessing! Fellowship and what is in the works. The evidence is all around/belt of truth.